White Mantle

Lore & Background

In the current timeline, the White Mantle operates primarily from Bloodstone Fen and Lake Doric, with their main stronghold being the Fortress of the Unseen. They do not serve Kralkatorrik; instead, they are fanatical devotees of the Mursaat, believing in human purity and the purging of non-humans and heretics. Their members wear distinctive white robes and masks, symbolizing their anonymity and total submission to the Unseen Ones. They utilize ancient magic and fanatical zeal to maintain their influence, but have no significant presence in the Crystal Desert as an active faction. Their original purpose was to resist the Charr invasion, but over time they were corrupted by the Mursaat.

In Their Own Story

The sand of the Crystal Desert bit against the white fabric of his robe as Kaelen knelt before the altar. The wind howled through the ruins, carrying whispers of the great sleeper beneath the dunes. Around him, other mantles chanted in low tones, their masked faces turned toward the horizon where the sky bruised purple with magic. They did not fear the Dragon; they welcomed it as a father returning to his children. Kaelen tightened his grip on the ritual dagger, ready to offer the final sacrifice that would wake the beast.

Reader's Guide

The White Mantle serves as a primary antagonist faction in Guild Wars 2, particularly within the Crystal Desert storyline. Originally formed to defend human interests against Charr aggression during the First Guild Wars, their ideology has shifted drastically over centuries. Today, they are cultists devoted to Kralkatorrik. Their members believe that submitting to the Elder Dragon is the only way to ensure survival and order in Tyria. They operate out of hidden enclaves in the desert and mountains, often using fear and deception to recruit new followers or eliminate rivals. Their goals involve accelerating Kralkatorrik's awakening and dismantling human resistance. Unlike mindless minions, White Mantle members are intelligent tacticians who use magic and technology effectively. Players encounter them as hostile forces guarding ancient ruins and conducting dark rituals that threaten the stability of southern Tyria.

Did You Know?

• The White Mantle was originally founded as a secret society within Kryta during the Guild Wars era to resist the Charr invasion, not to oppose the Shining Blade; it was only later corrupted by the Mursaat.
• Their members wear distinctive white robes and masks to symbolize anonymity and total submission to the Mursaat, not to Kralkatorrik.
• They view the Mursaat as divine beings and seek to purge non-humans and heretics, not to serve any Elder Dragon.
• White Mantle members are intelligent tacticians who use both magic and technology effectively, but their primary base is the Fortress of the Unseen in Bloodstone Fen, not the Crystal Desert.
• They have no significant presence in the Crystal Desert; the faction serving Kralkatorrik there is the Branded.