Shiverpeak Mountains

Lore & Background

The narrative of Eye of the North places the Shiverpeak Mountains as a primary destination after players traverse tunnels revealed by great earthquakes tearing across Tyria, Cantha, and Elona. Within these northern peaks lies the far end where the Norn reside. The story follows characters entering this region to meet Jora, a Norn who informs them of humans living in the Far Shiverpeaks. The journey culminates in the Heart of the Shiverpeaks, where King Jalis Ironhammer and allied dwarves summon the Great Dwarf to face the Great Destroyer. This location is also home to the Asura, who inhabit the southern part of the Maguuma Jungle but are introduced here alongside the Norn as key races for the sequel.

In Their Own Story

After escaping a group of creatures known as 'Destroyers' through an Asura Gate, the player arrives in the Far Shiverpeaks. Here they meet Jora, who guides them north to a huge structure called the Eye of the North. Inside, visions reveal that the Great Destroyer is the nemesis of the Dwarven God, The Great Dwarf. To stop this antagonist, Ogden Stonehealer instructs the player to head specifically to the Heart of the Shiverpeaks. There, King Jalis Ironhammer initiates a ritual that transforms him and the allied Dwarves into stone, imbuing them with magical strength for the final assault against the Destroyers in the Central Transfer Chamber.

Reader's Guide

Travel to the Shiverpeak Mountains begins by descending crevasses created by earthquakes across three continents: Tyria, Cantha, or Elona. Players must navigate through the homelands of the Charr to the north and the Asura to the west before reaching the far end of the Shiver Peaks where the Norn dwell. The gameplay in this region relies heavily on 18 new multi-level dungeons that delve deep underground. Each dungeon contains one to five levels, requiring players to find keys, use switches, or defeat bosses to progress. The final level of every dungeon features a boss fight; defeating them causes a loot chest to appear for each party member. Area maps near entrances help locate key items and bosses without revealing the full layout.

Did You Know?

• The Shiverpeak Mountains are explicitly described as the icy slopes of the Norn's homeland to the north.
• Eye of the North introduces the Norn and Asura races, both of which later became playable in Guild Wars 2.
• King Jalis Ironhammer leads a ritual in the Heart of the Shiverpeaks that transforms Dwarves into stone to fight the Great Destroyer.
• The expansion features 18 new multi-level dungeons located within these northern regions, replacing the small number found in earlier campaigns.