1324 AE
Lion's Arch
"When will the madness end?" she said to herself, trying her best not to cry. Violet Videll was sitting at the bottom of the main entrance ramp leading to the Vigil Keep, head down in deep thought. What's left of the keep and for that matter, what's left of the Tyrian world itself.
Over a century ago, the elder dragon Zhaitan rose from the ocean depths that rests over what was once the Kingdom of Orr and unleashed its dark magic upon the world. But according to legend, believed only by very few, it is said that something happened on that fateful day to increase the magic's power. What that something was is perhaps one of the greatest mysteries of them all.
As a result of this unknown increase, the dark magic engulfed the entire world, nearly destroying it and leaving it in ruins. It also affected most of the global population, specifically those who cherish peace, harmony and love. Those under this category were converted to beings of rage, chaos and evil, seeking out the good who somehow avoided the conversion and eliminating all they encountered. Now, in the present day, all sentinent life on the planet is dangerously close to extinction.
There are currently only two known factions remaining. The heroic Videll family and the anti-hero guild who call themselves the Unified Heretics Of Tyria, led by Selene Lion... but it's also not Selene. Zojja's 'single timeline' theory is not correct. The actions of the original Selene from Zhaitan's awakening created an alternate future history, one that is dark and sinister compared to the world she came from. The Selene of this new world never travelled back to the Awakening and was corrupted by evil energy.
If only Azeena was still with us, Violet thought.
The events leading up to Azeena's death constantly echo in her mind. A few weeks ago, in the midst of combat, Azeena was cut off from her sisters in a UHoT ambush inside the Grove, home of the Sylvari. Unable to help, the Vidells watched in horror as UHoT's second-in-command Logan Thackeray sliced open the guardian's chest with her own greatsword, partially exposing the heart, causing Azeena to stumble back against what remained of the Pale Tree. Selene then fired a powerful longbow arrow into it, pinning her to the Tree. Logan and his rumored Sylvari love interest, Azelia Heartbreaker who betrayed her own people, set fire to the Pale Tree itself. The flames rapidly spread throughout the Grove, scorching it to the ground.
Azeena both bled and burned to death in the center of it all. The few Sylvari that managed to escape with their lives, Violet being one of them, could hear the echoes of Azelia's haunting manical laughter.
The Vidells were once under the dragon's influence and even part of UHoT itself. However, through sheer will and self-preservation, they broke the controlling spell that had befallen them and regained their mental freedom. Selene declared all eight of them as traitors, vowing to kill them all by any means necessary. Her word was realized to be true, beginning with Azeena.
Seven Vidells remain, with Violet now leading.
Ellie Videll, the Asuran elementalist with attire displaying many different colors, slowly walked over to where Violet was sitting. Back during her mental enslavement, one of Ellie's favorite activities was to take a group of good-minded prisoners and force them to compete in dye giveaways. People quickly learned to fear the words Videll's Dye Giveaway for what it really served as... population reduction.
The group size was usually around 15 to 20 people on average, with only 5 Lifesblood dyes to be given away as prizes. No other colors were ever used. Ellie selects a number from an announced given range. Whoever picked her number or was closest to it wins a dye. Participation was mandatory under penalty of death for refusing. Some actually chose the latter in brave defiance. At the end of the game, those without a dye were executed. But of course, the winners never got to actually keep the dyes. It just means they get to live another day.
But these days, Ellie can barely recall such events. She placed a hand on Violet's light purple skinned shoulder as the other Vidells were also approaching from different directions, still suffering from battle-scarred injuries, thanks to UHoT.
"We tried. Did our best to save Vigil Keep but there's now nothing left to save.," Ellie said, trying to sound comforting. "It's time to move on and find a new home."
Violet slowly looked up and met Ellie's silver eyes with the look of mixed sorrow and silent anger. Indeed, when will the madness truly end?