[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/thedeparting.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[GhostAmnesia Where am I? Who am I?]]]]

For a game where you can drink yourself silly in a drinking competition or turn yourself into bizarre creatures using tonics, there's more than one's fair share of tear jerking moments.

[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Core Game]]
!!General
* Snaff's death, and the disbandment of Destiny's Edge. Along with the fact that the dragon Glint is also dead. The events closely following after the deaths are quite heartwrenching.
** Eir being told that her whole plan failed and that she killed Snaff.
--->'''Eir''': You can't die!\\
'''Zojja''': He's already dead.\\
'''Eir''': You can't die. (takes Snaff's body from his golem and cradles it)\\
'''Zojja''': Put him down! You have no right! Your plan failed. You ''killed'' him!\\
'''Eir''': ''I'' killed him?
** Zojja having to cremate her own master's body, and her exchange of words with Caithe after gathering his ashes:
--->'''Caithe''': Rytlock is leaving.\\
'''Zojja''': Just like Logan.\\
'''Caithe''': We have to stop him, or go with him.\\
'''Zojja''': I don't have to do anything.\\
'''Caithe''': Don't be irrational.\\
'''Zojja''': Who are you to tell me anything? You're not my master, my master is dead.\\
'''Caithe''': This could be the death of the whole world.\\
'''Zojja''': My world is dead.
** Rytlock realizing that all their efforts were pointless, and that he was a fool for trusting Logan.
** Caithe's efforts on trying to keep the group together, which miserably failed. Until now, at the present time of the game, she still attempts to do so. And all those attempts failed as well. In a different timeline when the Pale Tree presents a vision of Orr to the Player Character, you find that she's grown so tired of rounding them up only to fail again that she decides to join Faolain in the Nightmare Court.
* One particular event in Straits of Devastation requires you to clear out a field hospital of Risen. After the event is completed, we get this exchange:
-->'''Commander Blaike''': Status report. How many of our sick and injured did we lose?\\
'''Medic Kellye''': All of them... sir.\\
'''Commander Blaike''': I... I see. Repair the damage and prepare to receive more casualties.
* The dungeon instance Honor of the Waves. You follow a Kodan Claw (protector-leader) through the wreck of his floating sanctuary overran by icebrood. You first arrive too late to save the Voice of Koda (spiritual leader, with whom the Claw forms an inseparable pair), who is corrupted by the Dragon and has to be put down by yourself and the Claw, and then, in one of the explorable paths, you have to slay two corrupted icebrood Kodan who form an honor guard to a Svanir fanatic. The Claw identifies them as his sons.
* The reveal of the Shattered Observatory fractal: Arkk, the mysterious HeelFaceRevolvingDoor-y asura you met in the two previously released fractals (Chaos and Nightmare), is Dessa's son, who came into the fractals to destroy them and bring her -- and now himself -- back to the real world. Dessa finds him and tries to convince him not to do it, but fails...and the machine activates, but Arkk and Dessa are still there. Arkk is frantic, trying to figure out what went wrong with his calculations, until he realizes what Dessa knew all along: they can never leave the fractals, because [[DeadAllAlong they don't exist]]. He resets the loop to stop his machine from destroying the fractals, but by doing so, he and Dessa are separated, trapped forever in a chaotic dimension where they might never find each other again or even remember what happened.

!!Personal Story
* Each of your Order mentor's death:
** Magister Sieran (Durmand Priory): A very happy-go-lucky Sylvari who was in love with the world, and had a tendency to say 'cherry!' when she was happy about something. She treats her death as another adventure, and says she is excited to see what awaits her in the Mists, but you can tell she's terrified. Sieran's death is probably the most tragic of the three, as while Tybalt and Forgal are both comparatively old members of their race, the former DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife, the latter almost a DeathSeeker, Sieran is a Sylvari Secondborn, making her only about 21 years old, and wants nothing more than [[TheWorldIsJustAwesome to live as much as possible and see more of the world]]. But as much as she loves life, she loves her friends more.
--->'''Magister Sieran:''' There was so much left that I wanted to see... I can't let you hurt them. I won't!
** Lightbringer Tybalt Leftpaw (Order of Whispers): A ''very'' easygoing Charr engineer, who (despite being a member of the Order for some time) does his first field mission with the PlayerCharacter, and rejoices when he is assigned to permanent field duty. A deep friendship slowly grows between him and the player character – with this odd Charr who has a fondness for apples, has insecurities linked to his missing right paw (which was blown up a few years ago), and who eventually reveals to the PC that his partnership with them is what gives him the courage to stay in the field. He sacrifices himself in order to help you escape from Claw Island. During a later mission defending the Order of Whispers from a Risen assault, it is revealed that the security system was designed by Tybalt, and that the password to override the system is ''apples''.
---> '''Lightbringer Tybalt Leftpaw:''' I've done a lot of things wrong in my life. But this one thing, I'm gonna do right. I won't let you have them!
** Warmaster Forgal Kernsson (Vigil): In contrast to the other two, Forgal acts more as a stern father-figure to your character than a good friend. He softens up gradually, showing more and more how proud he is of you; until you learn at Claw Island that he had previously lost his family, meaning that he as a Norn had no one to tell and pass on his legend to until you came along. He thus decides that keeping back the Risen while you escape will be a worthy death, and entrusts you to tell it while he walks back into battle against a dragon champion and a huge number of Risen.
---> '''Warmaster Forgal Kernsson:''' You may win the battle, dragon, but you will never defeat our spirit! I am Forgal, son of Kern. My father was the last Dolyak Shaman! I am a Warmaster of the Vigil! You will never make me kneel!
** This comes back to haunt your player character in the penultimate story mission where you fight ANOTHER GODDAMN EYE OF ZHAITAN. In addition to not wanting to fight another goddamn Eye of Zhaitan for the nth time, it taunts you about your dead mentor and says that they are "waiting for you now, beneath the dragon's wings..."
* The fact that a number of the allies you met, usually from earlier missions, started dying in the personal story missions for levels around 70-80 is just really, really sad.
** If you chose the "make another suffer" route in 'A Light in the Darkness', Lionguard/Crusader Apatia (met at Claw Island) will be murdered and turned undead by the Krait.
** If you choose "find the missing squad" during 'Further into Orr', you lose Ferghen (Norn personal story) to the Risen and his undead corpse comes back and kills Kekt (Sylvari personal story, new Priory member, or in 'Forging the Pact', depending on player character choices).
** If you choose "go after Zhaitan's navy" during 'Further into Orr', Zott (Claw Island) is killed when the last enemy announces themselves by shooting him in the back.
** If you choose "take the tanks into Orr" during 'Further into Orr', Tegwen (Sylvari personal story or Claw Island) sacrifices herself to protect the caravan and Sam Beirne (Human personal story) sacrifices himself to protect another member of your team.
* To elaborate further on the events that transpire if, during the mission 'A Light in the Darkness', you told the Pale Tree that your greatest fear is "letting an innocent die": the mission chain leading up to the Battle of Fort Trinity has your partner, the Asuran demolitionist Tonn, [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifice his life to destroy the Orrian Bone Ship]] by swimming back out to fix the explosive charges and telling you to set them off while he's still in range. After the Battle at Fort Trinity, you accept the duty of telling his beloved wife Ceera (a Pact field medic who Tonn constantly discussed with you fondly) of her husband's death. The news ''destroys'' her, to the point she's almost [[DrivenToSuicide driven to join him]] and [[ThisIsUnforgivable she swears never to forgive you for causing his death]]. While you manage to save her, when you leave her she's helplessly sobbing her eyes out alone. For those who question whether [[ItsAllAboutMe the Asura]] are capable of either true heroism or truly caring about anyone other than themselves, this mission will set you ''heartrendingly'' straight.

!!Living World Season 1 & 2
* The sight of fallen refugees in the first Living Story update. Flame and Frost added a few [=NPC=]s around refugee camps in their cities. One of them, the Refugee Primus, mentions how the cubs he was watching over were killed. Also, the general idea of the refugees being completely beaten down by the disaster and forced into rat-infested camps in their capitals.
* The November '13 addition, the Living Story "Fractured", has one near the end – when you realize the hub instance you go through every time when you're in the Fractals of the Mists is nothing else than ''Dessa's own personal fractal.'' [[KickTheDog Just before that]], Dessa muses on the fate of her krewmates from Thaumanova, who have to relive the same moment in their lives (in their case, death) every time someone activates their fractal.
* Lion's Arch in the aftermath of Scarlet's attack. The place is in ruins, the music is very sad in tone; and lots of [=NPC=]s are either grieving, confused, have left notes for lost loved ones or are digging graves for the fallen. There was a noticeboard where survivors left notes to try and reunite with missing loved ones. After reading a few, the last one is written in the handwriting of a young child, and it says "I can't find my mommy or daddy."
* While the death of Belinda Delaqua is certainly shocking (you speak to her only a couple of minutes before you come back to find her body gruesomely dangling upside down from a huge thorned vine), the real tearjerker is the effect it has on Marjory. She's one of the calmest and most stoic members of your party, but when she looks up and sees her sister's crushed corpse swinging above her head she just ''collapses.'' She selflessly refuses to let her lover Kasmeer comfort her too much, insisting that she go with you to help carry on the fight against the dragons while she takes Belinda's body home for the funeral.
-->'''Marjory:''' I have to get her ready-take her home. I have to tell...tell Momma. (...) I can't lose control here. If you're too sweet to me, I'll fall apart.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Heart of Thorns Expansion]]
!!Heart of Thorns
* The way the Sylvari are being treated. This varies from suspicion and coldness to Pact vigilantes ''kidnapping Sylvari troops to murder them''. It's hard not to feel sorry for them.
--> '''Pale Reaver Scout''': Please, don't hurt me.
** It's not just the treatment of Sylvari, it's their situation in general. Permanently having a voice in their head that drives them insane enough to turn on their comrades. Those who haven't "turned" yet are terrified of the prospect, and even a hardened soldiers like [[KnightInShiningArmor Laranthir]] or cynics like [[KnightInSourArmor Canach]] are visibly shaken whenever they are reminded how close they really are of losing themselves. Not to mention the brave, strong, and noble player, if they are a Sylvari.
** More heartbreaking is the Sylvari Commander's [[[DrivenToMadness slow spiraling descent into falling under Mordremoth's control]]. At first, it seems that the Commander's is completely unaffected, other than hearing voices, even as the player they seem fine... but as the story progresses, it reveals that they are constantly affected by Mordremoth's influence ''all'' the time, but they just won't say or act they are, probably to set an example to other Sylvari soldiers and not to worry their teammates. Sometimes, it got so bad that they would faint from the strength of the influence and even hallucinate, but [[IronWoobie yet they won't say a thing]].
---> '''Commander:''' ''(Heavy Breathing, from being hit by a bout of Mordremoth's influence)''\\
'''Braham Eirsson:''' Commander, you okay? You, uh... stumbled a bit there.
---> '''Commander:''' [[FalseReassurance It-it was nothing]]. Let's keep going.
** Sylvari Commanders face a lot of discrimination throughout the story as well. Ranging from their own troops abandoning them to downright disrespecting them. Even in Auric Basin, when the Skritt is auctioning the golden Exalted Armor, the Skritt panics at first when a sylvari wins the auction, leaving to the tired player to explain that they're not going to turn.
* The death of Eir Stegalkin, and Braham's reaction. To add to this, Garm is still missing.
** Unlike Logan and Rytlock, Zojja never fully forgave Eir for indirectly causing Snaff's death and the two never truly reconciled. Now they will never have the chance to.
* Remember Ceera, the Pact medic mentioned above? You meet her again, at the entrance of Auric Basin. Turns out Tonn died during the war against Zhaitan regardless of your choices. She mourns him, and is still (at least a year later) clearly devastated by the loss, but is determined to do him proud by working hard for the Pact. She talks to the Player Character, giving some tidbits of exposition about the area. Unless ''you'' [[KickTheDog as a commander were "responsible" for Tonn's death]] (i.e. played that particular branch of original personal story) – in that case, she won't have a word with you. The hatred and vitriol her lines are delivered with in that case are chilling.
-->'''Ceera''': Commander of death. I have no words for you.
* In the area nearby, you can find and recover dead bodies of Pact soldiers, two for each race, always male and female. Upon finding them, your character, no matter what race they themselves are, deliver a simple and short eulogy appropriate for the race of the fallen soldier (charr making their Legion proud, Norn having their legend go on, Asura being part of the Eternal Alchemy, etc.). Even the male charr player's voice actor (gruff, growly, and due to race, hardly ever emotional about anything) sounds solemn and sad at this point.
* The revelation that Rata Novus is nothing but a dead city. Taimi sounds so hopeful, so excited. But unless you played through the new maps only with the personal story, you already know she'll only find a hollow ruin overran with chak.
* The scene where Taimi gives up Scruffy. Making it even worse is how Scruffy\ hesitates, apparently needing reassurance. Not because he's afraid of being destroyed. He needs to be reassured that Taimi will be OK without him.
-->'''Taimi:''' Go on. It's okay. '''' I'll be okay.
* It's only sad if you think about it, but when Taimi asks the Sylvari Commander if they remembered when they were young the 'bad kids' frying bugs with magnifying glasses. They reply that they reply that they've only heard stories. Why? The Sylvari don't have a childhood because they are [[BornAsAnAdult born as adults]]. The story they probably heard probably came from information passed down from the Pale Tree, not even something they personally heard. As of this moment, they are ''still'' young at only just about ''three years old''. The very fact that the Commander just hasn't been around for very long, yet are immediately thrown into a world of hell under Mordremoth is just... sad.
* If the Commander is a Sylvari, in the instance 'Bitter Harvest', they are hit with the hardest bout of Mordremoth's influence yet, so much so that they were knocked unconscious, even longer than they had been in Roots of Terror (where they just collapsed), separating them Marjory and Canach. Although they manage to regain consciousness after a brief moment and shake off the influence quickly, their first frightening thought was that they had [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone killed their friends]] and had finally given into Mordremoth's control. The fear in the Commander's voice is heartbreaking to hear; they even cut themselves off because they couldn't bear to think about the consequences giving in and what they could have done if they had done so. It's saddening to see the once strong Commander start to visibly break from being [[MindRape mindraped]] by Mordremoth. After they catch up with their friends, the Commander plays it cool with Canach, letting him know their mind was "fine", even though it really isn't as peachy at all. The Commander even casually states that both ''they'' and Canach were susceptible to turning after Canach makes a small quip about it, possibly as a indicator how close they actually really were to giving in. It's really a wonder how they can really sleep at night or get any proper rest while all this is going on.
--->'''Commander:''' Have to catch up with Marjory and Canach. '''' Hopefully I didn't-...
* Finding Logan and Zojja is both reassuring and heartbreaking. They have clearly suffered greatly.
* If you select to chat with Zrii before going to face Mordremoth, you find out some of the people you recruited to aid you at Claw Island were killed (Barron and Fero) or went missing (Benn and Eliye) when the brainwashed Sylvari brought down the Pact Fleet. After they followed you all the way through the cleansing of Orr, it's a real gut punch.
* In the final battle Mordremoth summons versions of the companions you left behind in other to fight you. Their dialogue is one of despair while keeping their personalities. But the worst is when he summons your Order's mentor (Tybalt, Sieran or Forgal). The commander is absolutely pissed at this action. A happier version happens at the end when you purify the phantom and they join you in the fight.
-->'''Tybalt Leftpaw''': It's good to see you, my friend.\\
'''Player Character''': I've missed you, Tybalt. Grab an apple and let's finish this!\\
* What Mordremoth is doing in that stage is activelly leeching your character's memory for things to make you hurt and wreck your morale. He only finds your mentor because the Commander still vividly remembers and is hurt by their loss, even though it's been years since their death.
* After all this time, doing their best fighting Mordremoth's control, the Commander was pushed so close to the brink of losing themselves after getting so close in proximity to Mordremoth. Despite their friends' insistence that they were stronger than this, the Commander couldn't handle being so close to Mordremoth and was ready to give in. They had been hiding how hard Mordremoth had been hitting them to put on a strong front for their friends and others, but now they just couldn't break free. The Commander had to be ''forced'' out of the influence by using a rift by Canach / Caithe, which they later describe to be extremely painful. It's sad to see the Commander so close to [[DespairEventHorizon crossing the line]], especially so close to the end.
* Finding Trahearne, who is too far gone to save. He just sounds so exhausted. His friend, the Commander, is tasked with killing him with Caladbolg. The beginning of 'Fear Not This Night' plays softly as Trahearne asks for the sword.

!!Raids:
* The first ever raid wing, Spirit Vale has a personified nightmare and tearjerker all merged into one, and its name is Gorseval the Multifarious. Merged tormented souls of humans that feed off other souls, constantly adding more to their collection. During the battle, it calls on you in multiple voices, all of them hateful and insane.
* Later, it turns out the bandit leader Sabetha has been using Gorseval to dispose of the bodies of the Pact soldiers and civilians she had abducted. At some point, she fed it to such strength that the bandits themselves were unable to go anywhere near it and had to find a different way to dump the bodies, burning them in pits instead.
* The path to Gorseval leads through an old human (desecrated) mass grave and cemetery. The souls there haunt you. In ''every'' sense of that word.
* In contrast to that, in Salvation Pass, you also find souls (marked ??? in the chat log) of the fallen humans. These, in turn, are terrified of you, or they call to you and plead you to come back just as they disappear.
* Later on, you discover that Matthias Gabrel, the final boss of the wing and inquisitor of White Mantle, sacrificed them all, to feed a ritual with their lifeforce and gain more power for himself. Said power is, in turn, becoming so uncontrollable even ''his own men are terrified'' of how unhinged their boss has become.
* Wing 4 (''Bastion of the Penitent'') is a decommissioned prison run by the (still dead) Mursaat. As the squad fights their way through it, they find out about a prison riot failing, by the hands of some eldritch Demon named ''Samarog''. At the very end in ''Solitary Confinement'' resides Saul D'Alessio (the legendary founder of the White Mantle) kept alive and tormented for 250 years. He is played out as a [[TragicVillain tragic loser]] in life, who made a great mistake in leading the White Mantle, where it is now. After beating his prison guard/tormentor, he is relieved into his [[BittersweetEnding final death]].

!!Living Story Season 3
* Although not formally part of the episodes, this happens in between Heart of Thorns and Season 3. The player gets a chance to fix Caladbog, which they had informally inherited from Trahearne after his death. During this side story, they encounter three visions. First they meet Riannoic, the first wielder, which might not mean much if your character is not a Sylvari, where they had helped avenged his death and got the sword to he properly inherited to the person in the second vision, Trahearne. It's a mix of sadness and heartwarming to see Trahearne again even though he was only just a memory from the past. The Commander gets to properly say goodbye and Trahearne fades away, happy to see that Caladbog in the right hands. The third vision is a different type of sad, where the Commander faces against themselves, the Remnant of a Hero, but it also tells a story about the Commander's struggles. They wanted to save the world and had thought that if they tried hard enough, they could. However, the more the world just got worse and they couldn't even save themselves from drowning in doubt. The only solace was quiet advice to hold in their [[TitleDrop heart a thorn]] to pierce the doubt.
* The first chapter of Living Story 3 gives us Eir's memorial service. The [[PlayerCharacter Commander's]] voice acting during the toast really sells the whole thing as heartwrenching.
* The ending of Living Story 3 [=S3E4=] with the death of Demmi Beetlestone, who is killed by her own father in a fit of Bloodstone induced madness. It is especially heartbreaking if you had joined the Order of Whispers and played through that part of the storyline quest where you rescue and then recruit her into the Order with Tybalt Leftpaw.
-->'''Demmi Beetlestone as she lies dying''': ...Master Tybalt?... You've come for me...
* The abandoned records scattered about the last chapter of Living Story episode 3. Whether it's the last letter of a dying White Mantle member to their mother, realizing what a horrible mistake they'd made in joining the order of fanatics, or a final diary of a Sylvari who'd made a failed attempt to save some Risen from the corruption of Zhaitan after knowing what it was like to have Mordremoth's call eating at her own mind, there's a ''lot'' of absolutely soul-crushing additional material to find in this arc.
* In Living Story 3 [=S3E3=], the player character and Braham get into a heated argument about how they would go about killing Jormag. The topics discussed in the conversation really stabs the Commander where it hurts, bringing up things like the massacre of everyone in the pact in the initial siege against Mordremoth and implying it was their leadership that had caused all those deaths. The argument has a heartbreaking close, where both Rox and Braham leave the Commander on bitter terms, who feels guilty about how it all turned out.
** In a way, this is just a sad repeat of what happened in Destiny's Edge. The Commander is Caithe, trying to get everyone to get back together, but just like her, they're failing. It's even worse because Dragon's Watch never even properly formed and it's already falling apart.
** One of Braham's final words to the Commander really ''stings''. It hurts a lot because really, you know Eir would have never said this, but Braham is in a lot of pain over her death. However, considering how closely the Commander worked with Destiny's Edge, they very well might have been their unofficial SixthRanger. The [[HarsherInHindsight pain gets intensified when later]] it's revealed the Commander [[ItsAllMyFault blames themselves]] for not being able to save Eir, even though they couldn't have done ''anything'' to prevent her death.
-->'''Braham:''' You know what, Commander? I'm glad you didn't join Destiny's Edge. My mother wouldn't want you in there.
* In the Living Story 3 chapter, One Path Ends: Shining Blade Secrets is chock full of Tearjerker material. The Commander gets initiated into the Shining Blade. During their trials, they go through a trial that has them face their inner demons. For the first time, we get to hear what the Commander is really thinking about all the things that happened, in the form of manifestations of their friends. Everything said in this instance just makes ''every'' sad moment that happened HarsherInHindsight and absolutely heartbreaking. Analyzing the dialogue of the manifestations of the Commander's thoughts (who take the appearance of their friends), it reveals that the Commander blames themselves for the Pact's failure and the many deaths against Mordremoth, for being unable to save Eir, for being unable to save Rytlock in the mists, for losing trust in Caithe despite what she's done, the aforementioned argument with Braham, for putting Rox in potential danger, Destiny's Edge's eventual dissolve after Mordremoth's defeat, their own guild falling apart, for ''even just being the "hero"'', and much more. It's heartbreaking to think that despite everything, all the good the Commander had done, they are plagued by intense guilt, sometimes over things they had no control over.
** Some of the dialogue really pokes you where it hurts:
--->'''Eir:''' Pact Commander? ''Deserter''. You were absent-again-when we flew over the jungle and Mordremoth massacred our fleet!
--->'''Eir:'''You let me die! You were right there, and you let that thing kill me!
--->'''Caithe:''' It's all about you, you, ''YOU''!
--->'''Caithe:''' What is it that bothers you about me? The fact that I'm a murderess? Look in the mirror, old friend!
--->'''Rytlock:''' You left me alone in the Mists. Couldn't be bothered to save your ol' pal. Some friend you are!
--->'''Rytlock:''' Do you really have what it takes to protect Glint's offspring from what's coming? Really?
** What more, during the fight against manifestation of self-doubt, every time a dark manifestation of their friend appears to taunt them, the player is afflicted with a condition called 'Crushing Guilt', which is so powerful it actually ''affects them physically''. This condition increases cooldown and decreases movement speed, eventually stacking up so much that you can barely attack, let alone even ''move'' from how heavy the guilt is. Not to mention, the manifestation of Self-Doubt chipping away at your health. Hopefully they managed to get some closure by completing the trial.
** There are two ways to go about defeating the manifestation of Self-Doubt, either one gives you an achievement: Fearful and Fearless. The Fearful method is to approach the manifestations of your friends and get closure on each individual dark thought, getting rid of the condition, and then facing their self-doubt head-on, guilt-free. The ''other'' way, Fearless, is an all around harder and depressing way to defeat Self-Doubt. Instead going up to the illusions and getting closure, you would ''shoulder all the guilt'', allowing yourself to get weighed down until you can barely move (by the conditions stacking), but through sheer will and determination, slowly whittle down the Manifestation Self-Doubt until you finally kill it. Considering the Commander's {{Determinator}} personality and their status as an IronWoobie, they likely went the 'Fearless' route canon-wise. In hindsight, they probably use this 'route' all the time to deal with their inner demons...
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Path of Fire Expansion]]
!!Path of Fire
* Vlast's whole story. He was born into a tough situation, and he was supposed to follow his mother's footsteps. However, he didn't grow the way anyone expected him to. Unlike Aurene, who had the Commander as a friend and a champion to show her the way, Vlast had no one, and was forced to grow up in Kesho on his own, with the oppressive Exalted as his caretakers, who were smothering to him. Vlast grew up to be very anti-social and didn't share the same sympathy for humanity that his mother did, since he never really got a chance to socialize with anyone. However, he still stuck to his guns and wanted to carry out his mother's wishes, but his way. All he wanted was to be free in the skies...and a friend. Before his death, he tells Aurene (via the Commander) through a Vision Crystal that he would have liked to have someone to fly in the skies with and regretted that now they never met. Vlast didn't even get a chance to fully grow up, and died at a 'teenage-like' age.
** Aurene never got to meet Vlast. According to Taimi, she was moaning in pain and snapping at her attendants. It's difficult to hear that the once playful dragon you bonded with was suffering so much.
** When the Commander calls for Taimi to let her know about Vlast's death, you can hear how broken the Commander is. They sound really torn up and guilty about Vlast sacrificing himself to save them (a Norn female sounds torn up especially). If you think about it, the Commander already had countless people sacrifice themselves for their safety; Vlast's death only adds to the growing number of people who died for them. Not only that, since they are connected to Aurene the Commander was able to feel Aurene's emotional distress, even though they're miles apart. They know how much Aurene was hurting. Not only were they guilty, but they are experiencing how terrible Aurene is feeling too.
* The Commander's (Player's) death. Goes to show you that [[AnyoneCanDie anyone can die]] and not even ''[[PlayerCharacter you]]'' are exempt from this. Not only did the Commander die an extremely tragic and slow agonizing death after a fireball to the face, toyed with Balthazar until the had no strength to stand, but ''also'' after their death they appear as not just any ghost, but a ''Lost'' Spirit, having [[GhostAmnesia lost all their memories]] (including how they died) due to how 'traumatic' their death was. After all, they've been through, fighting what seemed like the unbeatable and overcoming all odds, becoming [[InvincibleHero virtually the undefeated hero of Tyria]], they were toyed with by Balthazar, who kept wounding the Commander until they couldn't fight any longer, but alive enough so they could live through their suffering before finally being killed after [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness they were no longer useful]]. [[FateWorseThanDeath Even death isn't really a release]], considering how horrible the afterlife they've come into is. Even then, when they finally recover their name, the Commander had an option to just put down their weapons , to accept the afterlife they've been given and rest in peace after one of the most stressful and tiring life one could ever have, but not only wouldn't they do that but they just ''can't''. Too much burden rests on their shoulders and they can't even ''afford'' to ''stay dead''.
** It's also a little sad if your character happens to be a Sylvari. Unlike if the Commander was the other races, the Sylvari Commander is still extremely young. As of their death, they are only about ''five years old'', barely enough time to really enjoy life, even younger than Sieran when she died, and ''she'' was considered young at her death at age 21. Even before the moment they took their first step into the world, a terrible burden and destiny had been placed on their shoulders. Since then, their lives have gone progressively worse, especially ever since Mordremoth first appeared and started messing up their minds. And now, the literal worst thing happened to them: death and a horrifyingly lost afterlife.
** It's also saddening to look at this from other points of view. The Commander is more than just a champion to Aurene, they are essentially ''her parent''. Aurene absolutely adores her [[ParentalSubstitute surrogate parent]] and the two have bonded very strongly in the short time they've been together. Doubling as heartwarming, Aurene immediately sensed that her parent was in danger and ''flew all the way from Auric Basin'' to try to save them...but she couldn't. Aurene essentially watched the [[GoodParents gentle and kind parent]] who raised her and loved her get slaughtered by Balthazar. The worst part is that Aurene and the Commander locked eyes right before Balthazar finally snuffed their light out. This must've been incredibly traumatizing to her, also taking into account that this would have been the second time her parent had died. What's more, a while ago, her older brother, Vlast, was also killed. To think that her brother's sacrifice would have been in vain if the Commander had stayed dead.
** If you happen to call Taimi extra times between missions, a little before the Commander's death by the hand of Balthazar, Taimi informs the Commander that Aurene has been frantically learning how to fly in her chamber, which Caithe describes almost as 'trying to escape'. Considering Glint also had the power of prophecy, it's also quite possible Aurene was able to do so as well. If this is true Aurene probably foresaw her surrogate parent's death and tried to prevent it. Unfortunately, she fails and gets to watch them die, though thankfully we avert this.
** Balthazar apparently took off after killing the Commander and capturing Aurene, leaving the Commander's friends to arrive to discover the Commander's gruesome dead body. Just a little earlier, the Commander was just talking to them, but now they lie in a charred mess, dead. When the Commander manages come back to life, [[LosingTheTeamSpirit Kasmeer is seen crying and the others are just standing idly by solemnly]], unsure what to do what to do now that their [[OurHeroIsDead friend and spearhead of their operation lay dead]].
* The lost spirits wandering around The Domain of the Lost has some sad stories to tell. A lot of them are just rushing around looking for lost items or any clue to finding out who they were and how they died, less they remain a lost spirit forever, trapped in a dark and gloomy land for the rest of their afterlives. Some of them resorted to trying to steal other people's identities and names, including the Commander's, in a desperate attempt to finally quell the tiring afterlife they live.
--->'''Lost Spirit:''' Mom? Dad? Is that you?
--->''':''' ...
--->'''Lost Spirit:''' It hurts.
--->''':''' What hurts?
--->'''Lost Spirit:''' Everything.
--->''':''' I'm sorry.
* After working so hard to defeat Balthazar together, Aurene absorbs the excess energy released by his death in order to make sure the Commander survives. She probably is still shaken by her surrogate parent's death and despite the negative effects it could have on her, she decides to do it anyway. However, suddenly Aurene flies away for unknown reasons, leaving a distraught Commander wondering where she had gone and why she left. The Commander's voice calling out for Aurene as she flies away is really heartbreaking.

!!Living Story Season 4
* The identity of the Awakened Champion sealed off in the Grotto of the Defeated: It's ''Koss'', and he makes no bones about the fact that Joko brought him back specifically as torture. Players who knew him from the first Guild Wars really wanted Joko's head after this.
* It was long suspected, but Koss confirms it: Joko's just as likely to use Awakening as ''punishment'' as he is to use it as a "gift", and Awakened are ''compelled'' to obey him, whether they loved him in life or not (it's just easier for him to control them if they did). Suddenly brings a whole new horrible understanding to those Awakened who have "Forgive me!" as their re-death cry.
* When Taimi gets kidnapped by Joko, the instances afterward are just pure blind panic in a rushed desperate attempt to rescue your friend. Taimi's anguished cries really sell the anxiety and panic the Commander feels; she cries for the Commander's help and when they're unable to answer due to their communicator being stolen, she just gets more and more fearful. Even when you manage to get the communicator it almost feels like it's too late to even save her. Thankfully you do manage to save her, but her desperate pleas for help and her panic as she is almost suffocated in her old golem will haunt you forever.
* Although you might be happy that [[DeusExMachina Braham and Rox suddenly appeared to save]] the Commander and their allies, Braham's reaction to meeting the Commander is frustratingly sad to watch. Even though some time has passed Braham still holds a grudge against the Commander for things they had no real control over. The first thing he does after realizing who he had saved is scoff at them, before cruelly and unjustly blaming them for getting Taimi kidnapped. The sad part is that the Commander doesn't even attempt to defend themselves; they just meekly allow themselves to [[TheScapegoat take the accusations from Braham]]. Even when the Commander attempts to make small talk by thanking Braham for saving them, even with Rox's attempts to make peace, he just sourly grumbles at them. The stress from saving the world already hangs heavy from the Commander's shoulders; everything is at high stakes and it's really up to only them to fix it all. Even as tired as they are, they can't even get a welcome respite from their friends.
* The opening to Long Live the Lich begins with a humorous trial in which Gorrik is arrested, but the result is that his and Taimi's belongings and equipment were impounded. This unfortunately included Blish, who looks like any other golem, despite being the neural imprint of Gorrik's older brother. Even worse, he was powered down, meaning that from deactivation to being rebooted he was essentially sense-deprived. The moment he's reactivated he wakes up with a heart-wrenching scream of terror and anguish, hyperventilating as he's brought back up, describing how he was unable to see, hear, speak, or move. It makes his ultimate fate much more painful, when all is said and done.
* It's hard not to feel sorry for Sabil in 'Long Live the Lich'. Yes, he was wrong to help Joko, but seeing Joko ''brutally'' mock him and his dead wife is a punch. Worse, it's clear in the open map that this ''broke'' him. Any other named character in Kourna, you have the option to talk to, but Sabil just sits sobbing in his cell and you can't interact with him at all.
* On one hand, Braham really needed the metaphorical kick in the head, on the other his reaction when Eir's ghost emerges from the Mists really makes you feel for the guy.
* ''Poor Aurene''. She's terrified of facing Krakkatoik, not because she thinks she can't beat him or because he's a giant dragon, but she's seen countless different futures. And in ''every'' single future, she's died fighting him. No matter what strategy they try, [[ForeseeingMyDeath she would end up dying]]. Even if she's grown up a bit, she's still ''just a kid'' with a huge responsibility thrust to her. She's terrified of dying. Who ''wouldn't?''
* Taimi's been keeping a secret from you, and it's part of the reason she was so fascinated with Blish's golem form. Her condition's come back from remission, and she's on a countdown clock. At the end of 'A Star to Guide Us', Taimi hopes that her death will be heroic just like Blish's.
* Blish has a plan for "belling" Kralkatorrik, and the two of you rush off into the Mists, only for things to start going wrong. He yells for you to run and insists he'll be fine because he can't be Branded. He lied about being fine. He lied to the Commander so they wouldn't die with him. Those who played Tonn's storyline remember this pain all too well.
** Taimi's and Gorrik's reaction to Blish's death is especially heartrending. The Commander attempts to inform them of the outcome, but Gorrik keeps interrupting, sounding ecstatic that their plan to track Kralkatorrik worked, almost as if he's unaware. It's not until his voice cracks while stating he wondered why he ever doubted him that it's clear that he's ''very'' aware that his big brother is not coming back, and is trying to remain enthusiastic just to hold back the floodgates. You can hear how broken he is when the Commander informs him that Blish said he was sorry; and then you remember that the only reason Blish was able to live on as a golem up to this point was because of Gorrik.
-->'''Gorrik:''' ... ''But I saved him...''
* The Commander overall during A Star to Guide Us. This is the ''first'' time the Commander has ''ever'' sounded close to tears. The remorse and guilt concerning Blish's death. The Commander sounded so torn up about losing Blish and having to tell Taimi and his brother about it. Judging by Braham's dialogue, it sounded like the Commander clearly [[ItsAllMyFault blamed themselves for not being able to save Blish]]. It gets even worse when you realize how many people actually ''died'' for them. Their Pact Mentor, Tonn, countless others, too numerous to count. The Commander starts to show strong shades of [[SurvivorGuilt survivor's guilt]]. Not only that, but with Taimi's reveal that her illness has returned, it's likely that they'll be losing another one of their close friends once again. How many deaths will weigh heavy on their shoulder's then? [[CosmicPlaything Their life certainly just keeps going downhill.]]
* All or Nothing. Aurene dies. The episode doesn't even have an epilogue where you can talk to your comrades - it just dumps the player out of the instance, leaving you to try and process what just happened. The ambient dialogue in Thunderhead Keep becomes a ''brutal'' HarsherInHindsight version.
-->'''Taimi:''' After we finish off Kralkatorrik, I'm eating a whole barrel of ice cream. I deserve it! And Aurene can have some, too.
* The sheer, crushing despair and hopeless that immediately precedes Aurene's revival. Braham is the only one with any real hope left, confidant that the Commander will come up with a plan like they always do, but the Commander bluntly tells him there ''is'' no plan. Aurene was literally their last and only hope of stopping Kralkatorrik, and now that she's gone, there's nothing anyone can do but wait for the end as Kralkatorrik devours the Mists, and all of reality with it.
* Surprisingly, the fight against Kralkatorrik. Despite being seen as an unstoppable reality eating monster, he ''wants'' to die because the magic he absorbed from Zhaitan, Mordremoth, and Balthazar has left him in incredible pain. Aurene, finding compassion for her grandfather, grants his wish with the aid of the Commander.
* A good sort of tearjerker, Aurene becoming one with the cosmos.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:The Icebrood Saga]]
!!Episode 1: Whispers in the Dark
* Poor Almorra. Many were hoping she would survive the episode, but alas...At least she has a memorial.
* It's heart wrenching to see all the Side Characters and [=NPCs=] in the area fall victim to the whispers of Jormag. They all experience horrid visions and some even turn on their allies, mentally tortured and confused.
** Marjory crying out for her dead sister Belinda is particularly notable. Later, she tries to get in touch with Kasmeer for comfort and support, but is unable to get through, and ends up pacing in a room trying to assure everyone she's okay (but she's clearly not)
** There a couple Vigil Recruits at Bjora's Keep who you can talk to. They've fallen so deep talking to the whispers, that they don't even acknowledge anyone trying to talk to them. They keep talking in circles and circles and there's nothing you can do but just leave them alone. Eventually, they'll walk out into the cold by themselves. Try as you might, you can't convince them to turn back to the keep for safety, eventually perishing out in the cold.
* Almost like Jormag is poking the Commander exactly where it hurts. Like before in similar circumstances, the whispers actually taunt the Commander about their failures, even borrowing the voices of their friends (during ''The Invitation'') and pointing blame at the Commander. As if that isn't confusing enough, the whispers then comfort the Commander. The commander, already stressed, tired, and uneasy, can only frustratingly shout at the voices to stop.
** To think that after Mordremoth's fall, the Sylvari Commander (and other Sylvari in the area) would never have to deal with manipulative voices in their head ever again. Unfortunately, Jormag says no. For the Sylvari, this is simply just another harrowing reprise of what they had suffered in Heart of Thorns. Sylvari Commanders actually sound more angry and annoyed than the other races when responding to the whispers. Makes sense, they've been through it before.
--> '''Sylvari Commander:''' It's like Mordremoth, but different.
* There's a Hidden Achievement called 'Give In', where all you have to do is go to sleep (using an emote) in the new map. If anything, this achievement proves how tired and exhausted the Commander really is of everything and how they just cannot catch a break, ever. All they want to do now is ''sleep''. Rest. But that may be just what Jormag wants.
--> ''As Pact Commander, your trials are unending. It's time to let them go. Just lie down, everything will be okay. Rest.''
!!Episode 3: No Quarter
* The "Cache Hunter" achievement in Drizzlewood Coast means fighting Charr who joined the Dominion and were assigned to guard hidden supplies and weapons. This achievement is a gut punch for players of Charr Commanders because some of these guards are the very members recruited to be the Commander's warband back when they were just a Legionnaire, having grown disillusioned and angry at the perceived "abandonment" of the Commander joining the Pact.
** Standing out among the Cache guardians is Elexus Shredskin, a Charr Commander's first recruit if they were Blood Legion. Unlike Luccia and Yahuk, who are shown in their journals to have been ''very'' bitter and vengeful over the Charr Commander "abandoned" the Warband for the Pact, Elexus is shown to still hold her former Legionnaire in high esteem, fondly reminiscing about their exploits. However, by this point in the story, [[IveComeTooFar she's advanced and done too much as a soldier of the Dominion]] to back out now, and all she can do is hope that she doesn't have to face her former commanding officer in battle.
!!Episode 5: Champions
* The stress of being the Norn of Prophecy really gets to Braham. He doesn't take it out on the Commander this time, but he's incredibly burnt out by the end of it all if his dialogue during the Dragon Bash festival is any indication.
* The Owl Spirit [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifices herself so that Ryland can't use her magic to power Jormag.]] And after just being rediscovered in Drizzlewood, too...
* Crecia arriving at her breaking point during the last fight with Ryland. After spending the entirety of the conflict trying to reach out to her cub, forge an alliance or at least get him to stand down and leave Bangar, Ryland's refusal to take one last peace offering makes her finally snap and shout that she is ashamed to have given birth to someone like him.
* Ryland's story as a whole. He was the charr equivalent of a child prodigy, with massive expectations piled onto him from early age due to his lineage, and was obviously driving himself hard to live up to them. Thoughout the Saga, he loses his anchors and role models one by one – first his sire, who he beliefs has gone soft through his time with the humans, then Almorra, for whom he obviously had massive respect, and in the same swoop, Bangar, who murders her in cold blood and destroys any respect Ryland had for him, then his warband, most of which dies during the battle of Wolf's Crossing, then his mate and last bandmate Cinder, who gets murdered by Smodur in what charr see as extremely dishonorable fashion, and then his mother. ''Twice''. Once when she shields Smodur from his retaliation for Cinder's murder, and one final time, when she truly disowns him. All of this happens in a span of barely a year. It's little wonder he turned to Jormag for comfort.
* Rytlock is forced to kill Ryland in the aftermath of Dragonstorm, after both his and Crecia's efforts to turn him around fall on deaf ears.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: End of Dragons]]
* Starting right out of the gate in the prologue's opening narration with Taimi's quiet, shaken "I'm running out of time."
* All Soo-Won wanted was to protect the world. Realizing she couldn't do it on her own because her domain was too limited, she created the other Elder Dragons, only to be unable to do anything but watch as they fell to madness and hunger and became world-ending threats themselves.
* Mai Trin is a drunken wreck after her time in the Mists, self-medicating to deal with the betrayal by the other Aetherblades and the fact that she's an untrained Revenant with Scarlet Briar as her attached Legendary Spirit. After the Commander and Jory sober her up, she actually makes a solid effort at heroism, culminating in saving Cantha from the Yong Reactor meltdown. This gets her murdered by Ankka.
* Ivan, an Aetherblade dredge, is mostly a comedic character, but his devotion to Captain Trin (and being the ''only'' crew member who doesn't abandon her) is genuinely touching, as is his reaction when you have to tell him Ankka killed her.
* After being emotionally preyed-upon by Jormag, Aurene finally gets an ''actual'' dragon mentor in her great-grandmother, only to lose her.
* The whole episode of Chapter 16: What Lies Beneath, is the first chapter after the main story and comes close as possible to confirming that the Commander is suffering from severe, longstanding [=PTSD=] without actually using that term.
** Throughout this whole episode, the Commander, who is usually quite chatty, either with their friends or just giving orders, is ''oddly'' quiet. Although they are usually taking the lead and making decisions, they let Gorrick take the mantle this time. From their story journals, the Commander will mention how numb and exhausted they are, but seem unable to sleep properly. The way this is all portrayed makes it seem that the Commander is suffering from a bout of depression. And it's affecting them quite hard.
** The start of the episode starts out simple enough, with the Commander visiting Rama's party, where Gorrick notices that the Commander looks oddly exhausted. Then once the Commander and friends head to the mine infested with the haze, the Commander starts experiencing hallucinations of Almorra over the comms. It's clear that they're disturbed, but are trying to suppress it all, which what they've always done anytime they've had to face their demons (ex. Living World Season 3: Chapter 6, Knight of the Thorn achievement, etc).
** In the last part of the episode, the Commander gets overwhelmed with the haze and starts hallucinating their allies (Gorrick, Rama, and Yao) as all the precious people they've lost: their mentor (Tybalt, Forgal, or Seiran), Eir, and then Almorra. In all instances, their hallucinations are torment them with lines about [[WhyCouldntYouSaveThem 'Why didn't you save me?']] and bringing forth all of their mistakes, prodding their SurvivorsGuilt. By the end, the Commander is ''begging'' the hallucinations of all their dead friends to stop their torment that [[YouDidEverythingYouCould they did all they could]] and [[TearsOfRemorse they were sorry]], they are ''so'' sorry. This whole situation is just a literal physical manifestation of what it's like to be a [[ShellShockedVeteran War Veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder going through intense flashbacks]]. In the end, Commander straight up blacks due to how intense the experience and trauma was.
--->"Their twisted words stabbed at me while waves of shadowy beasts pressed in, the wounds raw as though their deaths were fresh—deaths on my hands. The demon's power crushing my mind, I couldn't think, could only feel..."
---->- The Commander's entry in the Story Journal on the experience
*** The voice acting for all the Commanders is absolutely brilliant, but also incredibly heartbreaking. The female Sylvari sounds like they're in pained desperate denial, while a female Norn is absolutely on the brink of despair as they beg for it all to stop. A female Asura straight up sounds like she's about to have a panic attack when she starts apologizing to the hallucinations.
*** An extra knife-twist for a Charr Commander -- one of the last things a Charr will hear hallucination-Almorra say to them is "You'll be the end of the charr". Not only are you listening to a respected mentor blame you for her death, but she's assuring you you're about to have the loss of ''your entire race'' on your conscience.
** At the end of the episode, the next course of action is to lure out the demon with the Commander because they seem unusually attracted to them. This means that the Commander will likely need to finally face there almost [[TraumaCongaLine decade long trauma]] that they've been trying running away from.
*** This gets even worse if the Commander is a Sylvari. This has been brought up time and time again, but a Sylvari Commander is extremely ''young'', even by Sylvari standards (by comparison, Sieran is considered a tragically young death with so much more to live for and she is ''twice'' the Commander's age). They are only ''eleven'' years old at most. Unlike other races who have had lives, possibly normal ones, before becoming the Commander, a Sylvari Commander was literally ''born'' to fight dragons. Dealing with eleven years worth of war trauma is already enough, but imagine it being ''your entire life''.
* Both sweet and heartbreaking: Even though the cycle of magic has ended, Aurene has been called to sleep as previous Elder Dragons had. She admits that she doesn't know if she'll wake again in the Commander's lifetime, though she hopes she will.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Secrets of the Obscure]]
* The ''scream'' that comes out of Zojja when Mabon falls to the Kryptis possessing him is absolutely gutwrenching. After years of struggling to put the pieces of her life back together, she finds a new mentor who sees just as much promise in her as Snaff did. And then she has to watch him be struck down just like Snaff was.
--> '''Zojja''': The world is downright cruel to anyone who gives a damn! He gave me a home when mine forgot about me. He saw me! ME!
** As Mabon dies, he uses his last words to comfort Zojja.
--> '''Mabon''': You did not die in that place. You have a home.
* Zojja's guilt over having spent those years avoiding her old friends, and at considering the offer to join the Wizards' Council. She just sounds so small and exhausted and ''broken'' as she pleads for the Commander to understand her feelings. And they do.
* The various little hints (mostly found in collections and journal entries) you can piece together that Isgarren is not as stoic as he seems regarding the deaths of his friends.
* Lyhr's kyptis possession briefly turns him against Mabon, who sounds absolutely ''devastated'' but still doesn't blame him.
--> '''Lyhr''': This place was my home before you fooled me into leaving it. What other tricks have you played on me? On everyone?
--> '''Mabon''': Lyhr, I-
--> '''Lyhr''': No more of your lies! I will fix this on my own!
--> '''Mabon''': I... I have to go after him. He... he didn't mean what he... Let me handle this. We can still get him back.
* Despite having been warned repeatedly that the ascension would affect Zojja's memories and trying to brace themselves for whatever might happen, it's clear the Commander/Wayfinder is still hit hard by her confusion on meeting her again in ''Through the Veil''. Every single voice actor nails the way they're trying to hold it together when Zojja asks if they are in command of some kind of army and all they can manage in response is a very small "I was."
** For that matter, the fact that they didn't get to attend the acension at all, and neither did any of Zojja's other old friends. Even if she manages to get some of her memories back in the future, an important part of her really has been cast off for this new life.


[[/folder]]