ArenaNet has released a new playable species spotlight on a race that caused a stir among fans with its appearance in the Guild Wars 3 Summer Game Festival announcement trailer. A developer on the narrative team (represented by Erin Amshlinger) spoke in detail about the playable code in the upcoming MMO.
The history of the Kedan people in Guild Wars 3 is closely tied to their past. Traditionally, this race from the distant Shivering Highlands has deep religious beliefs, worships the Codex of the Creator, and believes that their mission is to maintain the natural balance of Tyria. Their society has always been ruled by voice – the chosen voice being directly tied to Koda’s will.
However, in GW3, players will represent a unique branch of this race. Their ancestors, known to players of Guild Wars 2’s Janthir Wilds expansion, are the Kodan traitors from the Janthir Islands, who rejected the faith of Koda many centuries ago due to the apostasy of one of the voices.
The history of modern-day Orion Kodan begins approximately one hundred years before the events of Guild Wars 3. Despite living in a society that rejects religion, some of the Kedan in Gentil suddenly begin to hear the call of Koda – an inexplicable pull to the distant and mysterious land of Orr. Fearing abandonment, many people hid it until a mythical disaster occurred in Or’s Tugla Basin.
When they arrived in Orr a hundred years ago, the Kedan people felt the “sickness” of the land, but were also amazed by its beauty and the magical creatures of Vaal. There they met the young guild of Vaal Guardians, whose mission to protect the magical fauna fit perfectly with Koda’s interpretation of the Will. Although the Guardians suffered their own tragedies and refused to accept outsiders for years, their shared worldview ultimately made their relationship with Kodan one of Orr’s strongest alliances.
The game’s events begin a century after the resettlement. A generation of Orion Kodan stands at a crossroads: the mission of the Guardians of Vaal is crumbling, the faith of their ancestors weakens with each passing generation, and the balance of nature is disrupted by the wheels of technological progress.
When the once-shuttered Order of Vaal finally launched an open recruitment drive, Kedan would be one of the first to respond. Players take on the role of such a Kedan recruit. Joining the Guardians of the Vaal Guild becomes players’ personal way to carry out Koda’s last wish and continue the work of their ancestors to protect souls and their homes in an ever-changing world.
In addition, at the end of the article, the developer reminded that the beta test of “Guild Wars 3” is planned to be carried out in the fall of 2027.