Dagda
Dagda
Dagda is a jotun member of the Wizard's Court and the leader of the Bastion of the Celestial.
Biography
Early years
Dagda grew up after the fall of jotun society and the era of magic sometime before 716 AE. Her mother was Nuada, one of the few female chieftains in jotun history, who had immense magic powers like Dagda herself. Fearing Nuada's magical powers, other jotun killed her and most of Dagda's family; Dagda herself would have been killed as well, but was kept alive due to her age and likely to preserve her family's genetics for future generations, leaving her to be used as a tool by her tribe. She was rescued by the wizards Waiting Sorrow and Mabon, who had been tracking migrations south caused by a new dragon champion of the Elder Dragon Jormag in the north.[1]
Dagda became apprentice to Waiting Sorrow, and eventually ascended a wizard as well under her tutelage, losing many of her memories in the process. During this time, she and Waiting Sorrow became very close, to the point Waiting Sorrow considered her a sister and closest thing to a soulmate she needed.[2] Despite the Bastions of the Natural and the Obscure having no leading wizard, Dagda refrained from taking such positions for years. However, she ultimately took over the Bastion of the Celestial some time after the Searing of Ascalon when Waiting Sorrow had left the Wizard's Court.
Lonely Tower Fractal
Secrets of the Obscure
Act 1
Act 2
Act 3
The Midnight King
Janthir Wilds
Act 2
After Isgarren had chosen to make the existence of the wizards and the Astral Ward public to Tyrians and had helped found the multi-faction Tyrian Alliance to combat future threats in 1337 AE, Dagda did her part in aiding the alliance and getting them acquainted with the ward while viewing the very idea of Tyria being united as a fable come true. Countess Anise, who had been invited to the Wizard's Tower, likewise did her part in aiding the ward's acclimation to modern Tyrian affairs. Dagda was attending a strategy meeting with Isgarren and Anise after receiving troubling reports about the emergence of titans in Janthir when the Wayfinder suddenly arrived in the company of none other than the long-lost Waiting Sorrow much to everyone's surprise.
Sorrow tried to soothe Dagda by saying that she was doing fine and had stories to tell her dearest friend. The reunion between Isgarren and Sorrow, however, was tense due to Isgarren viewing the kodan wizard's disappearance from centuries ago as a personal betrayal. Dagda, who had grown tired of Isgarren's attitude, went so far as to threaten to lock him in Abaddon's cell for a century until Sorrow intervened and admitted that Isgarren had a right to be angry due to Sorrow abandoning them and the ward when they had needed her. Not satisfied by Sorrow's explanations, Isgarren ordered Dagda to escort Anise and the Wayfinder out as he wanted to have a private talk with Sorrow. Upon leaving, Dagda admitted to the Wayfinder how she had worried about Sorrow's ultimate fate ever since the kodan had left the wizards and that she was relieved to see Sorrow alive. She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Wayfinder for bringing Sorrow back.[3]
Godspawn
As the Tyrian Alliance made preparations to take the fight to the three titans lurking in Mount Balrior and put an end to the threat they posed to Janthir, the Tyrian Alliance and Astral Ward representatives visited Harvest Den to get to know their new Lowland Kodan allies better and to take part in Battle's Eve feast which the lowlanders traditionally celebrated the night before a major battle. Dagda observed the Wayfinder, whom many alliance members referred to as the Pact Commander, breaking the ice and introducing various kodan and alliance members to one another, and even cheered from the sidelines when the lowlanders' Spear Master Barbed Vale fought the Commander in a friendly sparring match. The representatives and the alliance members listened to Isgarren and lowlander leader Stoic Alder's inspirational speeches and participated in a dance by the bonfire.
As the night went on, Dagda and Waiting Sorrow used the opportunity to find a secluded spot to have a private talk. Sorrow told her about her time with the lowlanders and how she viewed Alder and his son Poised Arrow while admitting that she had a great deal to learn from them because they had not run away from trouble unlike what she had done. Dagda reassured her friend by pointing out that her stories about Sorrow had inspired the dwarven wizard Lyhr to form the Bastion of Balance in Sorrow's memory; no matter what the kodan wizard did next with her life, her teachings would live on in the Astral Ward. Sorrow felt ashamed for being honored but Dagda reassured the kodan that she was more whole with Sorrow being with her.[4]
By the time the first alliance group reached Mount Balrior, a suddenly surging Mists Tide cut them off from planned reinforcements consisting of the rest of the alliance representatives and the lowlanders. Despite this setback, the remaining party chose to press on to defeat the titans before the latter could flee. Dagda used her senses to figure out the titans' general whereabouts, and Poised Arrow suggested that the party should split up so they could engage the titans simultaneously. While most of the party headed for the nearest titan, Waiting Sorrow handled the farthest one while Dagda was tasked with keeping Decima, the Stormsinger in place and creating a portal so the party could reach her quickly. The party managed to defeat the two nearest titans, but most members were so fatigued and wounded by the consecutive battles against the titans and their spawn that only Dagda and the Commander were fit enough to go to Sorrow's aid.
Upon reaching the summit, the trio engaged the remaining titan, Ura, the Steamshrieker in battle. The titan imperatrix proved to be a tougher opponent than her peers as she fought the Commander and the two wizards fiercely. Although the trio ultimately defeated Ura as well, she parted with final, foreboding words about a door, which the titans had entered Tyria from, still being open without elaborating on such a cryptic message. Dagda and Sorrow returned the exhausted party members back to Harvest Den and informed the stalled reinforcements about the victory over the titans. With the present threat neutralized, Dagda returned back home along with several alliance representatives and did not take part in later excursions into Janthir.[5]
Absolution
Following the Tyrian Alliance's success in ending the titan threat in Janthir and the Foundry of Failed Creations in 1338 AE, a victory celebration was held in Lion's Arch. Dagda was among the many guests attending the festivities, taking the time to listen to Queen Jennah's celebration speech. While conversing with the Pact Commander, the jotun wizard inquired about the Commander's well-being after learning that the latter had encountered the late Mabon's ghost in the foundry. She admitted that it was difficult to ascertain if the Commander had met with Mabon's true spirit, a whisper of who he had been, or if the ghost had even been Mabon as the Mists tended to be incomprehensible even to learned wizards. Dagda lamented not being able to experience the reunion with Mabon and that both she and Lyhr still missed their late mursaat friend. However, she did raise her stein in the air to honor those she and the Commander had lost while reminding the Commander that parties should be joyous occasions worth celebrating.[6]
Locations
- Amnytas
- The World Spire (only during related events)
- The Wizard's Tower
Story involvement
Secrets of the Obscure story
- Act 1
- Act 2
- Act 3
- The Midnight King
Janthir Wilds story
Events involvement
- Amnytas
[Group Event] Defeat the Tentacle of Nourys and close the rift (80)- [Group Event] Defeat Nourys, the Eyes of the Abyss (80)
[Group Event] Help Dagda get the celestial pylons operational (80)
[Group Event] Defend Dagda while she recalibrates the deposits (80)
[Group Event] Help Dagda restore functionality to the control room (80)
- Inner Nayos
- [Group Event] Defeat Eparch, the Consumed King (80)
Combat abilities
Story mode: Mother of Stars
- Effects
(unlocked when casting Planet Crash)
Planet Crash — Dagda becomes vulnerable and loses control of Planet Crash, causing a lesser effect. Occurs when defiance is broken.
Kryptis-Possessed - This being is possessed by a Kryptis.
- Skills
- Planet Crash - Channel a celestial body to crush your enemies. Interrupting the channel will weaken this attack.
- Rain of Comets - Cover half of the platform with a rain of comets.
- Spinning Nebula - Stay in-place or teleport, then channel a whirlwind melee attack that fires out cosmic projectiles.
- Strike - Strike your foe.
- Vengeful Strike - Follow-up with another strike.
- Starburst - Conclude with a sword wave projectile.
- Stolen skills
- Blessing Seed
- Detonate Plasma
- Drink Ambrosia
- Soul Stone Venom
- Throw Cursed Artifact
- Throw Magnetic Bomb
- Throw Unstable Reagent
- Time in a Bottle
Raid encounter: Cosmic Observatory
- Abilities
- Wizard of the Stars
- Effects
(unlocked when casting Planet Crash)Planet Crash — Dagda becomes vulnerable and loses control of Planet Crash, causing a lesser effect. Occurs when defiance is broken.
- Skills
- Charging Constellation (challenge mode only) - Dagda fires a constellation at targets in sequential order. This constellation explodes on impact, dealing significant damage and applying extreme vulnerability to targets in an area. Targets with extreme vulnerability take significant damage from this attack.
- Demonic Blast - Fires a wave of diffractive energy, damaging foes in its path.
- Demonic Fever - Weaves dangerous elemental energies to heavily damage nearby foes.
- Meteor Crash (challenge mode only) - Deadly attack focused on a single player. Multiple allies can take damage from this attack in order to prevent instant death.
- Planet Crash - Channel a celestial body to crush your enemies. Interrupting the channel will weaken this attack.
- Planet Crash (challenge mode only) - Channel a celestial body to crush your enemies and instantly defeat them. Interrupting the channel will weaken this attack.
- Rain of Comets - Cover half of the platform with a rain of comets.
- Spinning Nebula - Stay in-place or teleport, then channel a whirlwind melee attack that fires out cosmic projectiles.
- Strike - Strike your foe.
- Vengeful Strike - Follow-up with another strike.
- Starburst - Conclude with a sword wave projectile.
- Stolen skills
- Blessing Seed
- Detonate Plasma
- Drink Ambrosia
- Soul Stone Venom
- Throw Cursed Artifact
- Throw Magnetic Bomb
- Throw Unstable Reagent
- Time in a Bottle
Open world
- Effects
Planet Crash — Dagda becomes vulnerable and loses control of Planet Crash, causing a lesser effect. Occurs when defiance is broken.
Exhausted (during [Group Event] Defeat Nourys, the Eyes of the Abyss (80)) — Dagda is exhausted from the guardian summoning ritual.
Stealth (when south of the Astronomic Nexus Ring in Amnytas) — Currently invisible. Ends if you deal damage.
Dialogue
- Speaking to her for the first time after Mother of Stars
- The harbinger has come around for a chat. I...my tone. Apologies. I'm sorry, Wayfinder, but I'm currently focusing on fixing things.
I did have some questions...
- And I don't have answers for you. You have free reign in the tower. Search, learn. You'll find a path.
Good luck with your work.
- I'll leave you to your work.
- Speaking to her after ???
- Wayfinder. What can I help with?
- Just some questions, if you don't mind.
- There is still much to do, Wayfinder, but I will answer what I can.
- Are you still feeling like helping Peitha was the right choice? (after completing Sovereign of Nayos)
- Yes. Though it's early days for the new Midnight King. And given the conditions I saw in Nayos, it will likely take years for them to recover.
- And how are you doing?
- Talk to you later, Dagda.
- Can you tell me more about the jotun?
- As you know, much of my personal history is obscured by mist and fog, but... I can tell you of my people. The jotun were...powerful.
- I understand. Please go on.
- How is Zojja holding up? (after Into the Obscure)[verification requested]
- She is tougher than she realizes, and she is exactly what the court needs right now. I ask that you not attempt to influence her decision. It must be hers and hers alone.
I won't, I promise. I do have more questions, though.
- What are the court's next steps? (after ???)[verification requested]
- Thank you for your answers, Dagda. I'll let you get back to work.
- Actually, I need to see to something.
- During Sorrow's Lost
- Primary article: Sorrow's Lost#Dialogue
- In The Wizard's Tower after completing Sorrow's Lost
- Dagda: Wayfinder. Still looking for the cards, I see.
- <Character name>: I've found them all. What's next?
- Dagda: I am... not unimpressed with you, Wayfinder.
- Dagda: I was never as adept as she with these magics, but if you'd allow it... I could give you a reading?
- <Character name>: I'd be honored.
- Dagda: Four—five cards are whispering. The Satchel of Fate. The Stag and the Fiend. The Mirror.
- Dagda: And... The Convoy.
- Dagda: The Convoy enters while the Mirror reaches into the Satchel of Fate...
- Dagda: The Stag faces a severe choice.
- <Character name>: The Convoy card is blank...? Who is it?
- Dagda: I think it might be...? No, take a look again.
Gallery
- Concept art
The Midnight King key art with Frode, Dagda, Pact Commander, and Peitha.
Concept art by Vencenza Surprise.
Concept art by Vencenza Surprise.
Concept art by Vencenza Surprise.
Related achievements
Jotun Skypiercer: 
Fractured Constellation — Complete the raid encounter in Skywatch Archipelago.
The Wizard's Tower: Sorrow's Lost — Locate each of the Oracle cards. (15
)
Daily Raid Encounter: Priority Horn of Maguuma Strike: Cosmic Observatory — Complete the Cosmic Observatory raid encounter. (0) (Historical)
Secrets of the Obscure: Cosmic Observatory Raid Encounter — Complete the Cosmic Observatory raid encounter. (5
)- Secrets of the Obscure: Danced with the Stars — While challenge mode is active, complete the Cosmic Observatory raid encounter without being hit by Spinning Nebula. (5)
- Secrets of the Obscure: Legendary Cosmic Observatory Raid Encounter — Complete the Cosmic Observatory raid encounter with challenge mode active. (5)
- Secrets of the Obscure: Precision Anxiety — While challenge mode is active, complete the Cosmic Observatory raid encounter with all players surviving being possessed by Residual Anxiety exactly one time. (5
) - Secrets of the Obscure: Weekly Secrets of the Obscure Strike Missions — Complete 2 unique Secrets of the Obscure Raid Encounters within a week. (0)
The Midnight King: Talk of the Tower — Check in with all your friends and allies in the Wizard's Tower. (3)
Janthir Wilds: Act 2: Friendly Reflection — Speak with Anise and Dagda in the Wizard's Tower. (1)
Godspawn: Life of the Party — Speak with the other guests at the battle's eve feast. (1)
Absolution: Master Mingler — Speak with all of the partygoers during the Tyrian Alliance's celebration. (1)
Trivia
- Dagda is voiced by Sharon Muthu.[7]
- Dagda wears the Astral Scholar Outfit.
- Dagda's greatsword is Stellar Avenger.
See also
- Associated items
References
- ↑ "An Unofficial History of the Wizard's Court, Volume 4" by A. Hawthorn
- ↑ Old Letter
- ↑ Sorrow in These Halls
- <Character name>: Who let you into the Wizard's Tower war room, Countess?
- Anise: Isgarren, by suggestion of the alliance. I'm aiding in the Astral Ward's acclimation to modern Tyrian affairs. [...]
- Isgarren: I'll deal with you later. So...how did you get inside?
- Waiting Sorrow: The tower's always liked me best; you know that.
- Dagda: Waiting Sorrow... You're...
- Waiting Sorrow: My dearest friend, I'm fine. And I have stories to tell you. [...]
- Dagda: So help me, Isgarren, I will open a gateway and lock you in Abaddon's cell for a century.
- Waiting Sorrow: It's fine, Dagda. His alarm isn't unwarranted. I...left you all. I abandoned the Astral Ward. I didn't say why. [...]
- Dagda: I'm... Every day that passed since she left us, I thought she was dead.
- Dagda: I thought that Jormag might've killed her. That she traveled into the Mists, no intention of returning. I thought...
- Dagda: None of that matters. She lives. Waiting Sorrow lives.
- Dagda: I don't know how you did it, Wayfinder. But you brought her back.
- Dagda: Thank you.
- ↑ Battle's Eve
- Waiting Sorrow: I could learn from him. My legacy is running from things I need to face...
- Dagda: There's far more to your legacy than that. After his ascension, I became fast friends with Lyhr—a son of Deldrimor.
- Dagda: He reminds me much of you. His views on magic, the dualities of creation and destruction, and logic and emotion.
- Dagda: I spoke of you often to him; shared your writings. And he eventually came to form the Bastion of Balance in your memory.
- Dagda: It was then that I finally accepted that even though you were gone, your teachings would live on.
- Dagda: Forgive me if I overshared with him. With you gone, I feared the worst. I guess it was a way to feel close to you again.
- Waiting Sorrow: I abandon you, and you honor me. I don't deserve you.
- Dagda: But now you're here, and I am more whole for it, my dearest friend.
- ↑ Balrior Peak
- Dagda: If the air tells me truth, Greer is to the east. Decima to the west. Ura...harder to say, but north.
- Waiting Sorrow: Okay. You all head to Greer—like Poky said, we know his ways. Dagda, you hold Decima in place.
- Dagda: Mm. When Greer is dead, be ready to move. I'll send a portal that'll bring you all straight to me and Decima. [...]
- Caithe: Dagda, Commander—I think you two should go ahead. I don't think the rest of us can push much farther. [...]
- Dagda: "The door we came through sits open"? What does that mean?
- <Character name>: I knew there had to be a catch.
- Waiting Sorrow: We'll figure that out. But for now...she is dead. All three of them are.
- Waiting Sorrow: I'll collect the others and return them to the village. Their wounds need tending.
- ↑ Salvation's Cost
- Dagda: I heard you had an enlightening experience in Bava Nisos, Wayfinder. How are you?
- <Character name>: Always the wiser, Dagda. I'm okay. Seeing Mabon was...jolting. If that was even Mabon.
- Dagda: Who can say? The Mists are incomprehensible. It could have been his true spirit—or it could have been a whisper of who he was.
- Dagda: But nonetheless, he was with you in one form or another.
- Dagda: I just wish I was there to experience it, myself... As does Lyhr. What I'd do just to see him.
- Dagda: We're still processing it all. We miss our friend. Lyhr... He may wear a bold face, but he still mourns.
- Dagda: But this is a party! Grab a stein—raise it in the air!
- Dagda: For those we lost.
- ↑ Tweet by Indigo Linde, Twitter.com
