The Six Gods

Lore & Background

In the ancient history of Tyria, the Six Gods were not distant observers but active participants in the world's creation and development. They guided the rise of human civilization, each god favoring a specific aspect of existence that resonated with their followers. Dwayna offered healing and protection, while Grenth oversaw the cycle of death and rebirth. Balthazar embodied war, fire, and challenge, Kormir granted wisdom and knowledge, Melandru nurtured the natural world, and Lyssa inspired emotion and art. Their presence was so profound that they physically walked among mortals during the First Age before departing into the Mists. Notably, the Sylvari were not created by Mordremoth; they were born from the Pale Tree, planted by Ronan and Ventari from a seed of a Blighting Tree. Mordremoth later corrupted some Sylvari but did not create them. The Charr rejected the human gods long before the Foefire and consider them false or irrelevant.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled across the snows of the Shiverpeak Mountains, carrying whispers of a forgotten time. An old Norn elder sat by the fire, recounting tales to wide-eyed cubs about when Grenth himself walked these peaks. He spoke of the god's cold breath freezing the very air and his voice booming like thunder, teaching the first Norn that death was not an end, but a necessary return to the cycle. The children shivered, not from the cold, but from the weight of the memory; for in those days, the gods were real, tangible forces that demanded respect and offered guidance before they retreated into the Mists, leaving only their legends behind.

Reader's Guide

The Six Gods are central to the mythology of Guild Wars 2, representing a time when divinity was immediate and personal. Each god corresponds to a specific domain: Dwayna (Life), Gormlaith (Strength), Grenth (Death), Balthazar (Wisdom), Melandru (Nature), and Lyssa (Emotion). Their disappearance marked the end of an era, leading to the rise of organized religions that interpret their will through scripture and tradition. The Charr, for instance, revere Gormlaith as a symbol of martial prowess, while the Asura often study Balthazar's teachings on logic and innovation. The fate of Grenth is unique among them; he was killed by his brother Kralkatorrik during the First Age, only to be resurrected later. The other five gods vanished into the Mists, leaving their followers to maintain their legacies in a world that has since changed dramatically.

Did You Know?

• Grenth has not died and been resurrected; he is absent but not confirmed deceased.
• Charr do not revere the Six Gods; they rejected the human gods long before the Foefire and consider them false or irrelevant.
• Lyssa was not killed by her followers in Kourna during the First Age; there is no canonical account of her death in that manner, and she remains absent but not confirmed dead.
• The Sylvari were created by the Pale Tree, not Mordremoth. The Pale Tree was herself created from a seed of a Blighting Tree by Ronan and Ventari. Mordremoth later corrupted some Sylvari but did not create them.