View source for Flame Legion

{{spoiler|[[personal story]], [[Living World Season 1]], [[Living World Season 2]] and [[The Icebrood Saga]]}}
[[File:Flame Legion banner 2.png|thumb|right|200px|Banner of the Flame Legion.]]
{{quotation|[[Charr Bartender]]|Those traitorous zealots tried to lead the charr to dominance by any means necessary. Now, their goal is to destroy the other three legions and force them into subservience.}}
The [[Flame Legion]] (pejoratively referred to as the '''Gold Legion''' by their enemies),<ref>[[Dragon Response Mission: Fireheart Rise]]
:'''Efram Greetsglory:''' You can't undo generations of hate in a day. To many, Flame is still the Gold Legion: unreliable, undependable.</ref> is one of the four [[charr]] [[High Legion]]s.<ref name="Ecology of the Charr">[[The Ecology of the Charr]]</ref> From their base in [[Citadel of Flame]] ruled by [[Imperator]] [[Gaheron Baelfire]], they attempt to impose their will on the rest of charr society.

The Flame Legion is defined by zealotry and superstition, and until two centuries ago, had unified the charr more than any other force since the days of the [[Khan-Ur]]. Unfortunately for the charr, the basis for the Flame Legion's dominance was deceit, and so when their treachery was discovered, it was outcast from the other legions in a spectacular fashion. Since then, the Flame Legion has waged a war against the other three High Legions, hoping to restore the [[shaman caste]] to power, and has become known as the traitor legion.

{{spoilers|In 1333 <small>[[Mouvelian calendar|AE]]</small>, a faction of Flame Legion accepted [[Efram Greetsglory]] as their legion's new imperator, shedding their old superstitious, cruel and misogynistic ideologies. Efram subsequently decided to make a new Flame Citadel elsewhere instead of reclaiming the old one as he wanted to distance his reformed legion from its past crimes and start anew.|[[The Icebrood Saga]]}}

== Culture ==
{{section-stub|lore|Expand lore on Flame Legion culture.}}
The Flame Legion has its own distinct culture, one that is notably more superstitious and misogynistic than the other High Legions. They make far more use of [[magic]] than the other legions, and their [[shaman caste]] once dominated the charr.

== History ==
=== Early history ===
After the assassination of the last [[Khan-Ur]], the Flame Legion, like the other High Legions, was founded by one of his direct descendants. The Flame Legion did not secure its dominance until roughly 850 <small>[[Mouvelian calendar|AE]]</small>, almost a millennium after the charr had been pushed from [[Ascalon]] by [[human]] [[magic]]. On an expedition to [[Hrangmer]], the [[gww:Burnt Warband|Burnt warband]] of the Flame Legion discovered the [[titan]]s,<ref name="Ecology of the Charr" /> fiery servants of the deposed [[Six Human Gods|god]] [[Abaddon]], although the charr were not to know that. The titans offered the charr magic in exchange for worship, and the Flame Legion gladly obliged. In time, the [[shaman caste]] came to be the ruling class of the charr, and worshipped the titans. When a [[Blood Legion]] soldier, [[Bathea Havocbringer]], rebelled, she was killed as a sacrifice to the charr's new gods. After that, females from the Blood Legion were no longer allowed on the battlefield, and in time, this followed for females of all Legions.<ref name="Ecology of the Charr" /><ref>[[Marghel Talekeeper]]</ref>

In 1070 <small>AE</small>, the Flame Legion, led by [[Bonfaaz Burntfur]], brought down [[the Searing]] on Ascalon with titan magic, destroying the [[Northern Wall]] and allowing the charr to seize the human kingdom. The charr moved south and west to conquer the other kingdoms with the Flame Legion's [[imperator]] [[Elite Imperator Ventus|Ventus]] leading the assault on [[Ruins of Orr|Orr]]; were it not for the timely rise of the [[White Mantle]] in [[Kryta]] and [[gww:the Cataclysm|the Cataclysm]] which sunk Orr, the charr would have come to dominate the entire surface of [[Tyria]]. When [[Vizier Khilbron]] released the titans from their prison behind the [[gww:Door of Komalie|Door of Komalie]] and sent them across the continent, fulfilling the [[Flameseeker Verse|Flameseeker Prophecies]], the Flame Legion looked poised to finally reclaim Ascalon. However, the shamans were humiliated as their gods were killed in front of them by a group of [[Hero (NPC)|adventurers]] serving the [[dragon]] [[Glint]] in 1072 <small>AE</small>.

=== Decline ===
With the titans deposed, the superstitious Flame Legion sought other beings of power to hold up as gods. When [[gww:the Great Destroyer|the Great Destroyer]], herald of the [[Elder Dragon]] [[Primordus]], awoke in 1078 <small>AE</small>, [[gww:Hierophant Burntsoul|Hierophant Burntsoul]] chose the [[destroyer]]s as the new gods of the charr. However, the destroyers were summarily shown to be false too by [[Pyre Fierceshot]] and [[Gwen Thackeray|Gwen "the Goremonger"]] who defeated them and the hierophant. The authority of the Flame Legion was dealt another blow in 1090 <small>AE</small> when the [[Foefire]] weakened their grip on Ascalon. The Flame Legion imperator at the time, who had ignored the warnings of the [[Fireshadows]] about [[King Adelbern]]'s plans, lost his life and the [[Claw of the Khan-Ur]] during the assault on [[Ascalon City Ruins|Ascalon City]] on the eve of the Foefire and had his name struck from history records because of his failure.<ref>[https://www.guildmag.com/gmblitz-lore-interview-with-jeff-grubb/ Lore Interview with Jeff Grubb in GuildMag Issue 5], GuildMag.com</ref>

In 1116 <small>AE</small>, the [[charr rebellion|rebellion]] which [[Pyre Fierceshot]] had begun finally bore fruit when the three High Legions faced the shaman caste in [[The Battle on the Plains of Golghein|battle]] on the [[Plains of Golghein]]. Still, the Flame Legion was powerful enough to hold its own, and the chances of victory for the other legions were looking slim until [[Kalla Scorchrazor]], a female charr who had been training in secret, added her female forces to the other legions', effectively doubling their number. The Flame Legion, who had not included females in their ranks, were overwhelmed and agreed to a surrender. However, the Flame Legion imperator was so ashamed of his defeat that he stabbed Kalla with a poisoned dagger during his surrender; he was executed shortly after by Iron Legion imperator [[Forge Ironstrike]] for his treachery.<ref>[[Statue of Kalla Scorchrazor]]</ref>

Once the Flame Legion's hold was broken, the shamans and their followers fled into the [[Blazeridge Mountains]] to lick their wounds. Escape was possible primarily because the other three legions were so focused on rebuilding their internal hierarchies after generations of Flame Legion control.<ref>[[The Legions of the Charr]]</ref> Within the safety of their headquarters in the [[Citadel of Flame]], the Flame Legion began rebuilding its strength so it could one day subdue the rebellious High Legions under its rule once again. Since the Battle of the Plains of Golghein, charr society was directed away from magic and towards [[wikipedia:misotheism|misotheism]] and technocracy, leaving the Flame Legion maligned.

=== [[Personal story]] ===
[[File:Gaheron Baelfire 02 concept art.jpg|thumb|[[Gaheron Baelfire]].]]
{{section-stub|lore|Add summaries of Flame Legion plots from early charr personal story.}}
In 1325 <small>AE</small>, the Flame Legion had regained much of its former strength under the leadership of imperator [[Gaheron Baelfire]], who planned to magically ascend to godhood with powers rivalling those of the [[Six Human Gods|human gods]]. He was supported by the [[Godforged]], a fanatical Flame Legion sect. Gaheron and [[Hierophant Improaster]] were [[Citadel of Flame (story)|stopped]] by the newly-formed [[Pact]], accompanied by [[Logan Thackeray]], [[Rytlock Brimstone]] and the [[Pact Commander]], and their demise sent the Flame Legion into disarray.

After their imperator's death, the Flame Legion splintered into multiple competing factions vying for power. Three splinter groups remained in the Legion's headquarters, the Citadel of Flame, and [[Citadel of Flame (explorable)|attempted to restore their power]]. One splinter group formed under the leadership of [[Tribune Burntclaw]], while another had their shamans search for a way to resurrect Baelfire with the [[Eternal Flame (Citadel of Flame)|Eternal Flame]]. Meanwhile, [[Crea Irontooth]], an [[Iron Legion]] [[engineer]], was enslaved by a third splinter group and was forced to work on building a Flame Legion superweapon. The Pact ultimately foiled the plans of all the three splinter groups.

During this time the [[Order of Whispers]] reported that [[centaur]]s had been seen meeting with the Flame Legion, which raised concerns in the Order in case any tentative partnership between the Flame Legion and the [[centaur alliance]] came to pass.<ref>[[Fural Rageseeker]]</ref>

=== [[Living World Season 1]] ===
In 1326 <small>AE</small>, [[Scarlet Briar]], herald of the [[Elder Dragon]] [[Mordremoth]], persuaded a Flame Legion splinter group to form the [[Molten Alliance]] with the [[dredge]] in hopes of gaining their technology and the Flame Legion's magic with which to build sonic probes to search for [[ley line]]s in preparation for a goal only she knew of at the time—to awaken Mordremoth.<ref>[https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/lore/Living-Story-recap-livestream Posts by Angel McCoy] in "Living Story recap livestream", Old Guild Wars 2 Forums (Archived)</ref><ref>[[The Dead End: A Study in Scarlet]]
:'''Scarlet Briar:''' The moles get magic, Flame gets gear, and I get weaponry I need. Everybody wins...especially me. [...]
:'''Kasmeer Meade:''' Scarlet deceived each of her allies into thinking they'd gain something from working for her. Hmm. She'd make a great minister. [...]
:'''<Character name>:''' She knew they'd give her what she wanted.
:'''Marjory Delaqua:''' Exactly. Sonic weaponry combined with flame magic. They repurposed dredge mining suits for use as charr battle armor.
:'''<Character name>:''' I think she was developing a sonic magical device other than weapons.
:'''Marjory Delaqua:''' So dredge sonic technology can be used for probing underground...
:'''Kasmeer Meade:''' And Scarlet's been looking for ley lines with those probes...
:'''Marjory & Kasmeer:''' She's after the ley lines underneath Lion's Arch!</ref> The Flame Legion agreed to the proposed alliance as they intended to betray and enslave the dredge once they had outlived their usefulness. The dredge, meanwhile, hoped to gain access to the Flame Legion's magic to strengthen the [[Moletariate]].<ref>[[Rox: Avenger of the Dispossessed]]
:'''<Character name>:''' What made you do it?
:'''Veteran Flame Legion Prisoner:''' It sounded like a good idea at the time. Mine the dredge for all their secrets, use them to take territory, then put them in their places. [...]
:'''<Character name>:''' Why'd you join them in the first place?
:'''Veteran Dredge Prisoner:''' For the fire, of course. We needed their fire magic to bolster the collective. With our hybrid weapons, we'd never have to worry about being conquered again. We believed them.</ref> The Legion used dredge personnel carriers and armor forged in [[Sorrow's Embrace]] which they combined with their magic, becoming more dangerous than ever before. The Molten Alliance began raiding the homesteads and ranches of the [[Wayfarer Foothills]] and the [[Diessa Plateau]], displacing many charr and [[norn]] refugees and capturing many others as slaves for their factories. This led the charr and norn to discover this new Alliance's existence, and they fought back and ultimately foiled the Molten Alliance's plans after a raid to the [[Molten Facility]] which saw the rescue of slaves and the deaths of notable Molten champions.

Despite suffering this setback and realizing that Scarlet had been using them for her own ends, the Flame Legion splinter group could not abandon their dredge allies in the Molten Alliance and return to their Flame Legion brethren because they would have been killed on sight for their failure. Hoping to still gain something from their shaky alliance, the Flame Legion splinter group continued working with the dredge and aided Scarlet as she gathered her many alliances and sent them all to [[Battle for Lion's Arch|assault]] [[Lion's Arch]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170919021218/https://forum-en.guildwars2.com/forum/game/lore/How-important-is-Lore-for-you/page/2#post3702344 Post by Angel McCoy] in "How important is Lore for you", Old Guild Wars 2 Forums (Archived)</ref> After Scarlet's [[Scarlet's End|demise]] in battle, her bickering alliances dispersed and left the destroyed Lion's Arch behind. Little else has been heard of the Molten Alliance since then although its leaders are still unaccounted for.<ref>[https://www.guildmag.com/magazine/issue11/season_one_lore_interview.htm Guild Mag Issue 11: Scarlet's Journal. Season One Lore Interview], GuildMag. '''Angel McCoy and Scott McGough:''' Leaders of the other alliances were in similar situations, and tasked with making sure their followers showed up to crush Lion's Arch in overwhelming numbers. The only reason people know Mai Trin's name is because she got caught. None of the other leaders have been caught, and thus, they remain a mystery.</ref>

=== [[Living World Season 2]] ===
During [[the World Summit]] when various nations' leaders had gathered in [[the Grove]] to discuss the threat posed by Mordremoth in 1327 <small>AE</small>, Iron Legion imperator [[Smodur the Unflinching]] reminded everyone present that the Flame Legion splinter groups continued being a threat to Ascalon. According to the imperator, the Flame Legion was waiting for the other legions to leave the [[Black Citadel]] unprotected so they could invade while the Legions assisted the Pact against Mordremoth's forces.<ref>[[The World Summit]] '''Smodur the Unflinching:''' If the Ascalonian ghosts aren't reason enough, we have an army of Flame Legion constantly nipping at our heels, just waiting for us to leave the Black Citadel unprotected so they can invade.</ref> Although Smodur ultimately relented and sent some of his troops to assist the Pact, the Flame Legion did not make their presence known during the campaign against the Elder Dragon.

=== [[The Icebrood Saga]] ===
In an initiative led by Blood Legion imperator [[Bangar Ruinbringer]] and [[tribune]] [[Crecia Stoneglow]], at least one Flame Legion splinter group had agreed to a truce with the other legions, and attended the [[All-Legion Rally]] in [[Grothmar Valley]] in 1332 <small>AE</small>.<ref>[[Revels & Rivals]]
:'''<Character name>:''' I'm looking for your—imperator. If you have one?
:'''Efram Greetsglory:''' Not yet. Not officially. All we've got is the truce we negotiated with Ruinbringer.
:'''<Character name>:''' And who's responsible for that?
:'''Efram Greetsglory:''' I am.
:'''<Character name>:''' I'd say that makes you the front runner.
:'''Efram Greetsglory:''' I hope. Took years—centuries, actually. But here we are. Those of us who want peace.</ref> The price of admission was steep—the cubs of the Flame Legion were to be educated in the Blood Legion [[fahrar]]. This period also saw the first female Flame Legion soldiers since the days of Bathea Havocbringer, and they tried to adjust to their new roles in the army and to the condemning and pitying looks from the other legions' females.<ref>[[Flame Legion Camp#Ambient dialogue|Flame Legion Camp ambient dialogue]]</ref> Flame cubs also had troubles adjusting to their new surroundings as they were bullied in the fahrar and often ended up in fights when they tried to defend themselves.<ref>[[Revels & Rivals]]
:'''Efram Greetsglory:''' Ruinbringer demanded our cubs as proof of goodwill. Most have already been training at the Blood Legion fahrar but—
:'''Prisca:''' I'm not going back there! Everyone hates me. Especially the other girls.
:'''Efram Greetsglory:''' I expected some resistance from other legions, even with Bangar's support. But I underestimated the cruelty of children. [...]
:'''Efram Greetsglory:''' Well, cub, what do you think? Give it another go?
:'''Prisca:''' Okay. I'll try not to light anybody's tail on fire this time.</ref>

At the rally, led by [[Efram Greetsglory]], the Flame Legion worked hard to prove their good intentions to the other legions by hosting a [[Ceremony of the Sacred Flame|ceremonial lighting of an effigy]] with the [[Sacred Flame]], and by [[Defeat Murakai, Doomlore's Bane|casting a spell]] to summon and defeat [[Murakai, Doomlore's Bane|Murakai, Lady of the Night]], who had been haunting [[Doomlore Ruins]]. They also participated in the [[Participate in the demolition derby!|demolition derby]] alongside the other legions.

Bangar's invitation to the Flame Legion, however, was merely a ruse to gain access to Flame Legion soldiers for more recruits to his [[Renegades|Renegade]] cause, ranging from adults to young adults and cubs who were being recruited in the fahrar.<ref>[[Deeper and Deeper]]
:'''Efram Greetsglory:''' Extremists recruiting straight out of the fahrar. Who else could it be?
:'''Lady Kasmeer Meade:''' The cubs are telling stories. Older charr floating around, testing loyalties, asking if they're ready.</ref> Although some in the Flame Legion remained loyal to Efram who was viewed as a better leader than Gaheron Baelfire had been,<ref>[[Burning Effigy#Ambient dialogue|Burning Effigy ambient dialogue]]</ref> many soldiers took the opportunity to join Bangar on a trek north to find the Elder Dragon [[Jormag]] in order to secure a future for the charr because they were not only wishing to join the fight again but to belong to the legions rather than being viewed as outcasts.<ref>[[A Race to Arms]]
:'''<Character name>:''' Looked like some Flame were spoiling for battle—they flocked to Bangar.
:'''Efram Greetsglory:''' Being a refugee is hard. It's swallowing pride, constant disrespect. They missed being seen as equals. And yeah, they missed the fight—that's our nature. But they chose the wrong side.
:'''<Character name>:''' I can't see how the side awakening Jormag could ever look like a winner.
:'''Efram Greetsglory:''' Ice Dragon or no, hate's a hard habit to break. Mark my words, there's a fight ahead, no matter what. I can't let this kind of ideology grow roots in my legion again. I won't.</ref> Despite Bangar and the Renegades' actions and the defection of several Flame Legion warbands to the Blood Imperator's ranks, Efram assured the other Imperators that he would continue the truce and collaborate with the less hostile factions among the charr to secure the [[Blood Legion Homelands]].

== Known bases ==
;[[Diessa Plateau]]
* [[Incendio Templum]]
* [[Phasma Castrum]]
* [[Silex Castrum]]

;[[Fireheart Rise]]
* [[Atrox Castrum]]
* [[Citadel of Flame]] <small>(Headquarters)</small>
* [[Noxious Castrum]]
* [[Provatum Castrum]]
* [[Senecus Castrum]]
* [[Termerarus Castrum]]
* [[Vorgas Garrison]]
* [[Vidius Castrum]]

;[[Grothmar Valley]]
* [[Flame Legion Camp]]

;[[Iron Marches]]
* [[Echoslab Arches]]
* [[Invictus Castrum]]
* [[Vermin's Folly]]
* [[The Blasted Hearth]]
* Unnamed camp in the [[Harvester's Glade]] <small>(Destroyed)</small>
* Unnamed camp in the [[Soldier Mesa]]
* Unnamed camp ontop of the [[Sunken Halls of Clarent]] <small>(Destroyed)</small>

;[[Plains of Ashford]]
* [[Facula Castrum]]
* [[Igni Castrum]]

== Members ==
{{member list}}

== Gallery ==
{{see|:Category:Flame Legion screenshots, :Category:Flame Legion object screenshots}}
<gallery>
Flame Legion banner.jpg|Primary banner.
Flame Legion banner.png|Alternate banner.
Flame Legion Emblem render.png|Emblem.
</gallery>

;Concept art by [[Kekai Kotaki]]
<gallery>
Flame Legion concept art.jpg
Flame Lord concept art.jpg
Gaheron Baelfire concept art.jpg
Gaheron Baelfire 03 concept art.jpg
</gallery>

== Related items ==
{{Related item table|
| sigil = Sigil of Smothering
| potion = Weak; Minor; Basic; Strong; Potent; Powerful; Extended
| miniature = Mini Efram Greetsglory; Mini Flame Legion Effigy; Mini Flame Shaman; Mini Prisca
}}

== Related achievements ==
* {{achievement|Flame Legion's Bane}}
* {{achievement|Defeating the Flame Legion}}

== See also ==
* [[Ash Legion]]
* [[Blood Legion]]
* [[Iron Legion]]

== References ==
{{gww}}
<references/>

[[Category:Charr culture]]
[[Category:Flame Legion|*]]
[[de:Flammen-Legion]]
[[es:Legión de la Llama]]
[[fr:Légion de la Flamme]]