Guild Wars About Hearts of the North Arrives News

ArenaNet has announced that a brand new chapter has been added to Guild Wars to help bridge the time gap between the original and the upcoming Guild Wars 2. The new content is called Hearts of the North and features the reuniting and marriage of Gwen and Keiran Thackeray. Players will even have the opportunity to complete missions as Thackeray himself. Players can also purchase special wedding costumes in the Guild Wars Store.

As a special treat for Guild Wars fans, the Hearts of the North lore focuses on the union of Lt. Keiran Thackeray, a figure familiar to War in Kryta players, and Gwen, a beautiful but bitter woman that players first met at the very start of the original Guild Wars. Logan Thackeray, an iconic character in the upcoming release of Guild Wars 2 and the forthcoming Guild Wars novel Edge of Destiny, is the descendant of these two legendary heroes. As part of Hearts of the North, Guild Wars players will once again take part in history, as the wedding of Gwen and Keiran have important ramifications on the world of Guild Wars 2.

War and pride have kept them apart, but nothing can stop Lt. Keiran Thackeray and Gwen from reuniting.
In Hearts of the North, you play a crucial role in the reunion of these two Ascalonian heroes!

Hearts of the North is the next installment of Guild Wars Beyond, an ongoing campaign that expands upon the Guild Wars storyline and lays the foundation for the upcoming Guild Wars 2.

Following the events of the War in Kryta, Hearts of the North tells the historic story of the union of two of the greatest heroes of Ascalon, Gwen and Keiran Thackeray. The Ebon Vanguard came to the aid of the Shining Blade rebels during the Krytan civil war, sending the valiant Lt. Keiran Thackeray and his elite Ebon Falcons to train the insurgents. During the climax of the war, Keiran seemingly sacrificed his life to save civilians from the oppressive White Mantle, leaving Gwen, the woman he loves, to face another unbearable loss in her life. But Keiran Thackeray is very much alive, and he’ll cut through an army of foes to reach his destiny.

This series of quests and missions chronicles Keiran Thackeray’s long odyssey to find himself and return home to his beloved, culminating in the wedding of Gwen and Keiran – but only if you help! You will search for clues to the whereabouts of the lost lieutenant and even play Keiran himself in a series of missions set in the aftermath of the War in Kryta.

Only those who have finished the War in Kryta can access Hearts of the North. Once you have participated in Keiran’s safe return, you can attend the wedding and associated festivities. For an overview of the War in Kryta, go here.

Gwen
The charr destroyed everything dear to her when Gwen was a young girl. Her toughness and single-minded hatred of the charr served her well as a member of the Ebon Vanguard, but Gwen was bitter and full of rage – until she met Keiran Thackeray. The noble ranger was immune to her cruelest barbs and took her indifference in stride, and over time Gwen’s frozen heart melted. She finally realized her true feelings for Keiran when he was reported missing in action. Now Gwen leads the Ebon Vanguard alone and waits for any word of Keiran’s fate…

Keiran Thackeray
An orphan of war, the Ascalonian ranger Keiran Thackeray has endured forced marches, pitched battles, and endless Shiverpeak winters during his time with the Ebon Vanguard, but the fierce, headstrong Gwen is the young ranger’s greatest challenge. Before Keiran’s elite unit, the Ebon Falcons, was sent to war-torn Kryta to aid the Shining Blade, he and Gwen quarreled, and Keiran marched to war questioning his role in her life. The Ebon Vanguard believed that he perished in that savage war, but Keiran Thackeray is a hard man to kill…

Wedding Costumes
Celebrate the union of Gwen and Keiran with our all-new wedding costumes! Wear an exact replica of Gwen’s strapless wedding gown and Keiran’s tuxedo with the Wedding Couple Attire. Don an elegant formal gown or a dapper tuxedo with the Formal Attire, or dress up in a male or female tux with the Dapper Tuxedo. If you really want to celebrate, pick up all the costumes in the Wedding Party Costume Pack. Each elegant costume comes with a male and female version, and can be worn over your existing armor without affecting your stats. Buy these special decorative garments in the Guild Wars In-Game Store and the NCsoft Store today!