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The world of GuildWars have many different races, and thus many belief systems and worshipped beings. The most common ones, however, are the Five True Gods: Balthazar, Dwayna, Grenth, Lyssa, and Melandru.


Balthazar

The god of war and fire, Balthazar is often worshipped by Warriors and Fire Elementalists, though there are Monks who have been known to follow his scriptures as well. Specifically, monks who are devoted to the Protection or Smiting disciplines can also be found among his devotees, and speak his name with reverence.

Army commanders and guild lords will often say a few words to the Bastion of Martial Glory before leading their followers into battle. The Lord of War watches over the battlefields and arenas of the world to see who glorifies his name. Balthazar gives strength to soldiers marching into battle and any adventurer who is ready for a fight. He guides the sharpened edge of a sword or axe so that it cuts deeply. In arenas protected by his priests, followers demonstrate their prowess in battle to earn his favor.

Balthazar is frequently shown holding a greatsword, its tip lodged in the ground, with a pair of battle hounds sitting at attention at his feet. In Cantha, the sword is usually one of the single-edged imperial style, and the battle hounds are usually replaced with winged drakes. Some Elonian art portrays him with majestic lions or other predatory companions crouching beside him. A Dervish taking the Form of Balthazar is a fiery presence, assaulting the world with armor as resilient as heavy plate and a weapon as lethal as the deity's greatsword.

For weeks did the battle rage on, and those who had taken up the mantle of war grew weary and their courage began to falter. Then did Balthazar, God of war and fire, appear to the soldiers, carrying with him a grand sword that did glow with such brilliance it blinded any who looked upon it. When He spoke, His voice was like thunder, and it shook the ground with force. Then saith He, "Lift up thy weapons. For you are my soldiers, and must you be steadfast, strong, and brave of heart. They who neither hesitate nor stumble shall be rewarded. Then shall you have glory. Then shall your deeds be remembered for eternity." And then did release from His sword a hundred thousand flames, which encircled the soldiers. For this was the fire of courage, and forthwith did they follow the God into battle without fear or hesitation. Thence was the enemy struck down.

Scriptures of Balthazar: 48 BE


Dwayna

The goddess of life and air, Dwayna is the even-tempered leader of the old gods. Dwayna watches the world from the heavens, beatifically observing humanity. Her followers are primarily healing Monks and Elementalists specializing in Air Magic, though in times of war, there are few denizens of Tyria who have not let fly a prayer to the Winged Goddess to spare them or their loved ones.

Countless heroes in need of healing whisper her name in prayer. Dwayna speeds travelers on their journeys, and when her followers are in danger, she sends down lightning from the skies to punish their enemies.

In works of art, Dwayna is often depicted as young, tall, and slender, rising over the ground on huge feathered wings. Canthan artists often depict her floating above the vibrant, living souls of their eternal ancestors. Elonian artists sometimes show her rising from lands ravaged by drought, disease, or plague. A Dervish assuming the Form of Dwayna towers over mortal men, surrounded by elegant wings.

And when the world rang with the clanging of swords and did fire fall from the skies, Dwayna, goddess of life and air, heard the wailings and pleas of the weak. And when the rumblings of war did not cease, came Her charge, Doric, who did prostrate himself at Her feet. And cast She now a glance upon the war-torn lands and wasted flesh of the fallen, and with tears upon Her cheek did lay Her gentle hands upon the prostrate man. Then saith She unto to him and all Her charges, "Lay down thy weapons, and as I have done unto ye, so ye must do for your brethren. Offer protection to the weak. Give solace and shelter to those who need it. Be ye a salve to the wounded. For I am your Goddess, and I will give blessings to all who follow these teachings."

Scriptures of Dwayna: 115 BE


Grenth

Necromancers revere Grenth, as do Water Elementalists, who often punish their enemies with chilling cold. Necromancers learn early that the way to true power is by bowing down at the foot of the god of death and ice and pledging total, undying allegiance. The Assassins of Cantha pay homage to Grenth, and rarely take on a job unless a priest of Grenth places a blessing upon the task. Ritualists, who speak to and control the darker forces of the underworld, also draw strength from Grenth’s teachings.

When the world is at its darkest, fearful souls pray to him as a means of last resort. Worship of Grenth requires sacrifice. Any path to his hidden secrets tests the soul as much as it does the mind. His acolytes and cultists know that the veil between worlds is thin, but if they can pay a price of blood and souls, the bodies of the dead will rise up and wreak havoc in the world of the living. The faithful know that when they die, their souls will eventually pass on to the Mists... but they still pray to Grenth, so that he may ease their suffering along the way.

Monuments to Grenth depict the god with the body of a man and the narrow, skeletal head of a drawn-faced beast. Often, there are followers at his feet, grasping toward his open, clawed hands, clamoring for the powers the unforgiving deity may feel so inclined to heap upon his subjects. Canthan artists tend to add a draconic look to the skull. The Canthan version of Grenth stands astride a small mountain of the dead, but in Canthan art the faces of these corpses are always averted from the god of death, as if in shame, to distinguish these enslaved dead from the “living” ancestor spirits. Throughout Elona, many of these statues have piles of bone and ivory beneath them, left as offerings by anonymous and fearful commoners. When life is difficult, zealous worshipers leave offerings of flesh and sinew, showing their devotion with fanatic displays of sacrifice. A Dervish assuming the Form of Grenth glares at the world through a bestial skull, measuring the worth of each fallen corpse.

Came then Desmina, scorned and exiled by her people. And in her misery and wretchedness, did Desmina curse the Gods for abandoning all who, like her, admired power and ambition. And asketh she, "Where is the God to whom I may give my undying devotion? Where is the God to whom I may beg revenge against those who scorn me?" And rumbled then the earth from far below, and with a terrible groan, split open. The ground grew white with frost and ice, and from forth the frozen earth spilled the rotted, skeletal minions of Grenth. Appeared then the God, and with bony hands outstretched, welcomed the girl into His fold. Saith he, "I am your God. Follow where I lead, come whence I call, and the rotted corpses of the dead will be yours to control." And swearing allegiance in life and beyond, did Desmina thence become the God's first follower.

Scriptures of Grenth: 48 BE


Lyssa

The twin goddesses of beauty and illusion forming a paradoxically singular entity, Lyssa is the matron goddess of the Mesmer profession in the northern Tyrian continent. Many Canthan Assassins revere Lyssa more for her intrinsic duality than her famous beauty and have been known to invoke her charms.

Lyssa wears many masks, appearing in myriad forms. In Cantha she also represents the incarnation of luck, both good and bad. Many a spellcaster has fallen under the charms of these two, making it easy for them to choose to specialize in the mesmeric arts. Patrons of the arts effusively praise her, particularly in the courts of wealthy Vabbi, but some fear her as a temperamental goddess. Behind her beautiful façade, some say, she maintains a deep communion with chaos. Displays of art and culture please her, but her wrath is terrible to behold. Her followers use her magic for illusion, trickery, and deception, twisting the magic of others to suit their own goals. By her whims, her enemies are brutalized by despair and hopelessness, while her beautiful followers are elevated to heights of rapture. There are stories of young men stopping to gaze longingly at statues of the beautiful goddesses, only to forget themselves and die of thirst while simply looking on.

Tyrian artists often portray Lyssa in her natural state as two goddesses: a pair of intertwined goddesses, twin figures of exquisite beauty entwined in an eternal dance, back to back, no illusions or glamours involved. Depictions of Lyssa in Canthan culture reflect the typical northern style: lithe twin figures of exquisite beauty entwined in an eternal dance. In Elona, the masks may change, and the dance may change, but Lyssa’s dual nature does not. She is beautiful to some and terrifying to others. A Dervish assuming the Form of Lyssa wears multiple masks, channeling blessings for mayhem and magic.

And it was, that a stranger came to the village of Wren seeking shelter and employment. Though young in years, her body was stooped and twisted, her flesh eaten by disease. "Ye have the mark of plague upon ye," said the citizen named Gallrick. "Leave this place lest you sicken our people." "I've lost my family and my home," cried the desperate woman. "Have you no heart?" Yet each person, in turn, did look away. Then from the crowd came a young woman, Sara. She looked upon the woman with pity. "If you need help," said Sara, "I will give it." And Sara did approach the gnarled, bent woman and did offer her a helping hand. Then the sickened woman pulled from her body the robes of plague, revealing Herself to be the Goddess Lyssa. The people of Wren fell to their knees, begging Lyssa's mercy. But lifting Sara gently, saith She, "True beauty is measured not by appearance but by actions and deeds. Many have eyes, but few have seen. Of all here, you saw the beauty behind the illusion. And you alone shall be blessed with My gifts."

Scriptures of Lyssa: 45 BE


Melandru

Many Canthans, especially the suspicious Luxons and the warlike Kurzicks, believe that the goddess of earth and nature has abandoned the empire. They believe that not even Melandru could have withstood Shiro Tagachi's literally petrifying death cry. But Melandru’s devoted followers, the Rangers, Earth Elementalists, and many cultist sects know that this is merely a misunderstanding of what the goddess truly represents. They know that the goddess endures within the crystalline shell of the once-thriving Canthan landscape. It is said the Maguuma druids at one time worshipped this deity, but there are none alive today who can confirm the truth of this rumor.

Rangers and Earth Elementalists leave offerings to Melandru, trusting to her guidance. Her statues attract weary travelers. Beneath her branches await plenty of fresh water and shelter from the elements. Melandru’s roadside temples offer shelter, food, and water to weary travelers even in Cantha, though such shrines are few, and separated by long stretches of lifeless stonescape. Throughout Elona as well, roadside temples to the goddess offer shelter and water to weary travelers. Wandering Dervishes maintain many of these shrines. With her blessings, the ground can slow or snare enemies, wanderers can survive in the harshest wilderness, and masters of magic can shake the very foundations of the world.

Melandru is frequently depicted in both Cantha and Tyria as a tall, winged dryad from the waist up. But whereas northerners see a creature whose lower half grows naturally into the trunk, branches, and roots of a living tree, Canthan artists usually describe a severe figure ensconced in an outcrop of Echovald quartz. Many temples use magic to shape her shrine from a living tree; for example, Elonian sculptures often rise from the base of a mebayah or a rooted dreamflower. A Dervish assuming the Form of Melandru has an arboreal appearance, acting with the same resolve as a tree with roots deep in the earth.

And it was that a tribe of godless humans wandered the land. Where camped did they lay waste, senselessly destroying everything nearby. And so the tribe set out to find another camp, when suddenly sprouted a wall of thorny branches, which blocked their exit. Then saith Ewan, leader of the tribe, "Know ye our ways. Whosoever does magic in this tribe shall be put to death." Yet none comes forward. Then, from the earth grows forth a large tree, and unfurling its branches, reveals the upper torso of a woman. Saith She, "I am Melandru, the Mother of earth and nature. Henceforth I bind ye to these lands. When they suffer, so shall ye suffer." And as She saith, so was it done. From their limbs sprouted branches, and the blood in their veins was the sap of trees. Then was Ewan and his tribe converted, and became they stewards of nature.

Scriptures of Melandru: 48 BE