Gods of Tyria

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The term God is used for an entity or race that is worshiped by other races in the world of Tyria. As there are different religions and beliefs in Tyria, there are also many different gods.

[edit] The True Gods

Avatars of the Gods of Tyria: Grenth, Dwayna, Lyssa, Balthazar and Melandru (respectively from left to right)

The True Gods, also known as the Old Gods, are the five (after Nightfall, six) gods that are the most commonly worshiped gods in Tyria. They are the beings who, in the religion of Humans and other advanced races, created the world of Tyria, gave magic to the races, and who bestow the Favor of the Gods. These gods are Balthazar, the God of War and Fire, Dwayna, the Goddess of Life and Air (also the leader of the True Gods), Grenth, the God of Death and Ice , Lyssa, Twin Goddess of Beauty and Illusions, Melandru, Goddess of Nature and Earth, and Kormir, Goddess of Truth and Knowledge.

Their other title, the Old Gods, is given because they have left the world of Tyria during the Exodus at year 0. In the timeline BE stands for Before Exodus and AE stands After Exodus.

Aside from the six aformentioned True Gods, there are other gods among this category. They are Dhuum, Grenth's predecessor who was overthrown by Grenth for being an unjust God of Death, Menzies, Balthazar's half-brother (although it is unknown if he is a god or simply a powerful being), Abaddon, Kormir's predecessor who was imprisoned for giving magic too freely to the races of Tyria, and the unnamed predecessor of Abaddon, only mentioned by the Apostate.

[edit] The True Gods in Tyria

The presence of the True Gods can be felt in the present day in two major ways:

• When the world has earned the Favor of the Gods, the statues of the True Gods will become active and the avatars of the True Gods will appear at the statues.
• If the world has Favor, then adventurers can interact with the avatars of the True Gods at any gods' statues. The avatars can bestow blessings, give quests and even grant access to the Realms of the Gods.

[edit] The History of the True Gods

According to legend, the True Gods used to live on Tyria while they were creating it. Three of the True Gods - Balthazar, Dwayna, and Melandru - used to make their home the city of Arah in the area known as Orr. Abaddon might have also lived in Arah, this is unknown due to all knowledge of him being erased. Grenth is believed to have resided in Cantha while Lyssa is believed to have been in Elona at this time.

In the year 1 BE, Abaddon gifted all sentient races with the gift of Magic, but it was abused by all as each race tried to use this gift to destroy the others. After a plea from King Doric, the True Gods sealed most of the magic away in the Bloodstones in order to reduce the amount of magic used, and thus reduce the damage done. Shortly after, Abaddon was imprisoned in the Realm of Torment for giving out the gift of magic too freely and for disagreeing for the removal or reduction of magic. The other five gods then left Tyria for good and went into the Mists in an event known as the Exodus of the Gods.

Since the Exodus, the Gods have not directly intervened with any affairs in Tyria, although they still watch the world, grant the world Favor - and through that, access to The Underworld, the realm of Grenth, and to The Fissure of Woe, the realm of Balthazar.

Recently, it has been discovered that some of the realms of the gods are under attack. Dhuum is assaulting the Underworld with his demonic army in hopes of revenge for his defeat. Menzies is assaulting the Fissure of Woe with his Shadow Army to obtain his brother's throne. There have also been attacks on The Hall of Heroes path leading from the Tomb of the Primeval Kings and the Dragon Festival in Cantha was attacked before the events of Nightfall.

Yearly, Grenth and Dwayna have a "battle" of gaining favor from the races of Tyria in order to determine if winter should last longer, or if spring should come sooner - although it seems only Humans and Norns celebrate this, although Norns only celebrate it because it is a party, not to bring spring sooner (or have winter last longer) as, where they live, it is always winter.

[edit] The Avatars of the True Gods

• Balthazar: Champion of Balthazar (a ghostly knight resembling many Eternals)
• Dwayna: Avatar of Dwayna (an angelic apparition resembling Dwayna's statues)
• Grenth: Voice of Grenth (a dark specter resembling a Rift Warden)
• Melandru: Melandru's Watcher (a druid)
• Lyssa: Lyssa's Muse (a face in a wreath)
• Kormir: Avatar of Kormir and Seer of Truth (a blindfolded, golden, version of herself)

[edit] Patronity

• Balthazar: Warriors, Fire Elementalists, Smiting and Protection Monks, Scythe Dervishes, and Command and Spear Paragons.
• Dwayna: Healing and Divine Favor Monks, Air Elementalists, Leadership and Motivation Paragons, and Wind Dervishes.
• Grenth: Water Elementalists, Necromancers, and Ritualists.
• Melandru: Earth Elementalists, Earth Dervishes, and Rangers.
• Lyssa: Energy Storage Elementalists, Mysticism Dervishes, Mesmers and Assassins.

[edit] The Other Gods of Tyria

As there are the gods known as the True Gods, there are also the gods that are not divine at all. These include the Unseen Ones of the White Mantle, both the first and second fiery gods of the Charr, and The Great Destroyer worshiped by the Stone Summit.

There are also deities which are unknown to be false or actual gods. These deities include Menzies - the half-brother of Balthazar - the Great Dwarf - worshiped by the Deldrimor Dwarves - and the Spirits of the Wild - worshiped by the Norn.

[edit] The Dwarves' Gods

Within the Dwarven religion, there are two "gods" that are spoken about. These are the Great Dwarf, patron god of the Deldrimor Dwarves, and the Great Destroyer, arch rival of the Great Dwarf. Although, while primarily worshiping the Great Dwarf, the Deldrimor Dwarves also worship the True Gods as well. This is shown by Jalis Ironhammer in Thunderhead Keep.

In ancient days, the Great Dwarf and the Great Destroyer once fought each other in a "titanic struggle." In the end, the Great Dwarf overpowered the Great Destroyer by removing its name and thus the Great Destroyer's power. The Great Dwarf then sealed the Great Destroyer within the Depths. It is said that if either the Great Dwarf's name or that of the Great Destroyer were to be spoken, both would be risen at full power and the end of the world would occur.

However, even though the name of either were never spoken, the Great Destroyer still rose and caused the end of the Dwarven race as a main influence in the world of Tyria.

See Also: Tome of the Rubicon

[edit] The Charr's Gods

The Charr were originally an atheist race that sought to fight against the True Gods, but when they were beaten back by the Humans who used the help of the True Gods, the Charr sought their own gods. 200 years before the Searing, the Burnt Warband of the Flame Legion found gods of fire for the Charr at the volcano, Hrangmer. And through those gods, the Shaman Caste was made and ruled over the Charr race. After the events of the Flameseeker Prophecies, however, the Charr's gods were discovered to be called Titans and were slain by human adventurers. This caused the start of a rebellion against the Shaman Caste. In desperation for control, the Shaman Caste found new fiery gods which were shortly killed by both humans and the Fierce Warband. After which, the Charr swore never to worship any gods and once more became an atheist race.

[edit] See Also

• Lore
• History of Tyria (work)
• Kerrsh (who studies them)

Gods of Guild Wars
Balthazar • Dwayna • Grenth • Lyssa • Melandru Abaddon • Dhuum • Menzies • Goddess of Truth • Great Dwarf • Great Destroyer