Pale Tree

2025-08-27T23:31:31Z

24.245.21.64:

{{spoiler|''[[Guild Wars 2]]'', all [[expansion]]s, and [[Living World]] seasons}}
{{Location infobox
| type = Landmark
| within = The Grove
| gallery1 = Pale Tree.jpg
}}{{otheruses|the [[landmark]]|the [[non-player character|NPC]]|Avatar of the Tree}}
The [[Pale Tree]], also known as the '''Blessed Mother/Source''', '''Mother Tree''', or '''Pale Mother''' to the [[sylvari]],<ref>[[Farrach]]</ref> is a massive, [[magic]]al, sentient tree who is the mother of all playable sylvari<ref>For a non-playable sylvari from a different tree, see [[Malyck]].</ref> and whose body forms the basis of their [[city]], [[The Grove]].

The Pale Tree overhangs her domain in the [[Tarnished Coast]], towering like a skyscraper over the landscape. Her branches flower with pods containing developing sylvari and [[Sylvan Hound|other creatures]], some high enough above the ground that the fall from them could be fatal. Within the highest reaches of the Tree is the [[Omphalos Chamber]], where she manifests her [[Avatar of the Tree|avatar]] and safeguards [[Ventari's Tablet]], which holds the guiding principles she raises the sylvari to.

The Tree can be considered the ultimate ruler of her sylvari children, though her [[Firstborn]] take on most responsibilities within the Grove. Sylvari acting as ambassadors also report to the tree, but she does not actively govern or influence their everyday lives.

== The [[Dream of Dreams]] ==
[[File:Pale Tree concept art.jpg|thumb|Concept art by [[Daniel Dociu]].]]
The Dream of Dreams is a mysterious state that sylvari experience prior to awakening, and of which the Pale Tree is the caretaker. Strong memories and emotions felt by her awakened children seep into the Dream, where they are added to the pool of experiences her still-developing children may drink from.

Through the Dream, the Pale Tree instills each new sylvari with an inherent sense of nobility, curiosity, and a need to explore, along with basic knowledge such as how to talk and use tools, and the assurance that she loves them. Nurtured and influenced by the deeds of the [[human]] [[Ronan]] and the [[centaur]] elder [[Ventari]], she reminds each sylvari to hold to the hero's path of honor, courage, chivalry and compassion even as they strive for victory over the [[Elder Dragon]]s.

In spite of this, a group of sylvari called the [[Nightmare Court]] seek to change the Tree. They believe that Ventari's Tablet suppresses the true nature of the sylvari, and seek to remove its influence. Knowing that intense experiences will echo in the Dream, they commit acts of depravity and evil to weaken the Tablet's influence.

== True nature ==
{{spoiler|[[Living World Season 2]] and ''[[Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns]]''}}
The Pale Tree is in fact a type of a purified and benevolent<ref>''[[The Complete Art of Guild Wars: ArenaNet 20th Anniversary Edition]]'' by [[Indigo Boock]], "Chapter 7: Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns"
:"She [Pale Tree] was purified, somehow, and is remarkably benevolent."</ref> [[Blighting Tree]]—a minion factory for the [[Elder Dragon]] [[Mordremoth]]. Blighting Trees are used by the [[Mordrem Guard]] to create Mordrem versions of all creatures. They take a living "template" creature and store them in [[Blighting Pod]]s, and can then create clones of them out of plant matter. The clones bear a strong resemblance to the template creature and can retain traces of their personality. Since the death of [[Zhaitan]] (and subsequent re-absorption of his magic by the rest of the Elder Dragons including Mordremoth), corpses can be used as templates as well as living creatures. Living hosts create stronger clones, however, so those are preferable.<ref>[https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/discussion/comment/493906/#Comment_493906 Elder Dragons Zhaitan and Mordremoth — Guild Wars 2 Forums]</ref>

For reasons that are not quite yet understood, the creatures produced by the Pale Tree are not automatically loyal to Mordremoth. The Dream seems to provide a level of protection, and it is not until sylvari venture beyond its protection (as [[Scarlet Briar]] did), try to quieten it (as the [[soundless]] do), or until the Pale Tree itself is weakened that sylvari become vulnerable to Mordremoth's call. The existence of [[Mawdrey]] suggests that it might be to do with the fact that the Pale Tree was cultivated by someone other than Mordremoth, but the reality of the situation may be more complicated still, as in 1325 [[Mouvelian calendar|AE]] the existence of [[Malyck]] was discovered. Malyck more closely resembles the sylvari of the Pale Tree both physically and in personality than the Mordrem, but is not from the Pale Tree and does not experience the same Dream as the sylvari.

== History ==
{{see|Avatar of the Tree|label=For story chapter involvement}}
=== Early history ===
[[File:Ventari and The Pale Tree 1078 AE.jpg|thumb|The Pale Tree in ''[[Guild Wars|Guild Wars: Eye of the North]]''.]]
The seed from which the Pale Tree sprouted was found in a cave containing many others like it, guarded by powerful plant creatures. Over 250 years ago a [[Shining Blade]] warrior named [[Ronan]] took one of these seeds and placed it on the graves of his family, who had been slain by the [[mursaat]] in what was once [[gww:Arbor Bay|Arbor Bay]]. He and the peaceful [[centaur]] [[Ventari]] then tended the young tree, and their attitudes and philosophy had a significant influence on her nature. In particular, [[Ventari's Tablet]], carved by the wise centaur prior to his death and placed at the Tree's roots, forms the basis for the Pale Tree's own philosophy and that of her [[sylvari]].

In 1302 [[Mouvelian calendar|AE]],<ref>Timeline in the novels Ghosts of Ascalon, Edge of Destiny, and Sea of Sorrows.</ref> the Pale Tree awakened the [[Firstborn]], the first twelve sylvari, over cycles with [[Trahearne]] of the [[Cycle#Dusk|Cycle of Dusk]] being the very first.<ref>[https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/lore/Spoilers-Lore-retcon-Wynn-Caithe-Riannoc/page/2#post4712334 Post by Angel McCoy] in "[Spoilers]Lore retcon - Wynn, Caithe, Riannoc", Old Guild Wars 2 Forums (Archived)</ref> A [[secondborn|second generation]] of sylvari joined them two years later,<ref>[https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/lore/Interesting-things-in-Scarlet-s-Room-Spoilers/page/6#post4194939 Post by Angel McCoy] in "Interesting things in Scarlet's Room [Spoilers]", Old Guild Wars 2 Forums (Archived)</ref> with more following in greater frequency and numbers up to the present day.

=== [[Personal story]] ===
If playing a Sylvari, During [[Fighting the Nightmare]] the tree will show the player their dream of them fighting and defeating the [[Shadow of the Dragon]]. Revealing the purpose the tree has intended for them.

=== [[Living World Season 2]] ===
During [[The World Summit]], the Pale Tree was attacked by the [[Shadow of the Dragon]]. The Commander managed to fend off the Mordrem; however, the Pale Tree was severely wounded during the assault.

[[Point of No Return|Later events]] have revealed that the sylvari are minions of the Elder Dragon [[Mordremoth]]. The Pale Tree—and a [[Wynne|single Firstborn]] who had seen the truth in her Dream—knowingly kept this secret from other sylvari and the rest of Tyria in order to keep her children safe.

=== [[Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns|Heart of Thorns]] ===
{{section-stub|npc|Missing information.}}

=== [[Knight of the Thorn]] ===
After reclaiming [[Caladbolg]], the Commander received a special blessing from the Pale Tree. It could be seen that the Pale Tree was recovering, but still not at full strength.

=== [[Living World Season 3]] ===
{{section-stub|npc|Missing information.}}

=== [[Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire|Path of Fire]] ===
{{section-stub|npc|Missing information.}}

=== [[The Icebrood Saga]] ===
{{section-stub|npc|Missing information.}}

=== [[Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds|Janthir Wilds]] ===
{{section-stub|npc|Missing information.}}
After conversations with [[Waiting Sorrow]] in 1337 AE, Dagonet and Caithe had received promising leads on how to aid the ailing Pale Tree's recovery. Dagonet told Caithe to keep the exact details a secret from others in the [[Tyrian Alliance]] for the time being as they began investigating the leads and narrowing down their search for a cure.<ref>[[Letter (Balrior Peak)]]</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Pale Tree panorama.jpeg|Pale Tree panorama.
</gallery>

== Trivia ==
* The Pale Tree's [[Avatar of the Tree|avatar]] is [[Voice actor|voiced]] by [[Lisa Carter]].
* The song ''[[Fear Not This Night]]'' is sung from the perspective of the Pale Tree.<ref>[https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/guild-wars-2-fear-not-this-night-song-now-available/ Guild Wars 2 "Fear Not This Night" Song Now Available], GuildWars2.com</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Blighting Tree]]

;Associated items
{{see|Avatar of the Tree}}
* {{item icon|Bud of the Pale Tree}}
* {{item icon|Vine of the Pale Tree}}

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Sylvari culture]]
[[de:Blasser Baum]]
[[es:Árbol Pálido]]
[[fr:Arbre Clair]]

GW2 Wiki English Mirror - User contributions [en]

Pale Tree