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Living World Seasons 1 & 2
Captain Ellen Kiel
A former Lionsguard inspector who headed the investigation against the sudden threat of the Aetherblades. She is currently the newest member of the Captain's Council in Lion's Arch, after narrowly beating out Evon Gnashblade in an election.
- Action Girl: Even after becoming a part of the council, it's not uncommon to see her fighting on the front lines against whatever threat Lion's Arch is facing at the moment.
- Ascended Extra: Formerly a minor NPC from the Lost Shores release, she has played a crucial role in most of the recent Living Story releases.
- The Cassandra: The rest of the Captain's Council didn't believe her when she tried to warn them of Scarlet's imminent full-scale assault on the city. Guess what happened shortly after?
- The Rival: To Evon Gnashblade, ever since the two of them competed for a seat on the Captain's Council.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!
Hero-Tron
A long-suffering golem from the Consortium who goes through many name changes.
- Ain't Too Proud to Beg: He even has a "Begging Subroutine".
- Breakout Character: Started off as a just some minor comic relief in the Secret of Southsun event, but quickly gained popularity among both the writers and fans.
- Butt-Monkey: He suffers with every Living Story segment. First he loses his job with the Consortium and has to resort to begging in the streets. Then he gets captured by Scarlet, is accused by the Seraph of serving her, is forced into community service as a result, and gets tracked by them when he flees to the Vigil to help with the wounded.
- Clear My Name: When he's accused of being Scarlet's minion, he goes through great lengths to prove otherwise.
- The Comically Serious: Always speaks in a Machine Monotone due to being a golem, regardless of the ridiculous situations he gets stuck in.
- Deadpan Snarker: He's described as having a sarcastic tone.
- Desperately Looking for a Purpose in Life: He's been moving from job to job ever since the Southsun gig fell through.
- Jerkass: Started off this way as Job-o-Tron, where he arrogantly bullied refugees into working with the Consortium on Southsun Cove. He's gotten a huge dose of the Humble Pie since then.
- Sitcom Archnemesis: With a minstrel named Marcello DiGiacomo. During his Hobo-Tron days, the two constantly fought for a corner to beg on.
- Took a Level in Badass: During the Battle for Lion's Arch, he gets an Energy Amplifier and a Combat Chassis from Evon Gnashblade, both of which allow him to heal the fallen right in the battlefield. He even goes so far as to revive fallen players in the final fight against Scarlet. However, this decision later comes back to haunt him when Evon comes to collect his debt and blackmails the golem, who now calls himself Hero-Tron, to spy on the Captain's Council for him.
Master of Peace
The leader of the Zephyrites.
- Cool Airship: The Zephyrites fly around on airships, powered by Glint's magical crystals.
- Cool Old Guy: He's old, but surprisingly sturdy, and dedicated to the Zephyrite cause.
- Egg MacGuffin: Despite the threat of Mordremoth, the Master is headed towards the Maguuma Jungle because he has to deliver Glint's last egg to the Exalted in Tarir.
- I'm Dying, Please Take My MacGuffin: He is eventually caught by Mordremoth's minions and fatally injured, but saved by the player and their companions. He tries to give over the egg to them, but Caithe steals the egg first.
- Killed Off for Real: He is fatally injured protecting Glint's egg, and dies as Caithe steals it away.
- Pursued Protagonist: Mordremoth's minions chase him relentlessly because he is carrying Glint's last egg.
Belinda Delaqua
Marjory's sister and a Seraph soldier introduced in the Epilogue of the first Living Story.
- Katanas Are Just Better: A Nodachi, actually. She wields one (a weapon skin that was initially exclusive to her, but was eventually put for purchase in the gem store).
- Passing the Torch: Belinda takes up the family blade, and Belinda imbues her soul into the blade.
- We Hardly Knew Ye: Present for all of three total episodes before getting killed off at Fort Salma, and even then she was only a side character with little to no screen time.
Wynne
A Sylvari of the Cycle of Night, and one of the Firstborn introduced during Living World season 2 flashbacks. She discovered the truth behind the Sylvari's dark origins through the Dream and tried to keep it a secret from the rest of her kind. However, she caught the interest of Faolain - who wished to learn what she was hiding - and who took Caithe with her on that mission, culminating in a tragic encounter between the three which would lead both Caithe and Faolain on their respective, diverging paths in the present day.
- Benevolent Boss: Unlike many of her fellow Firstborn, Wynne doesn't want to call the younger generation of Sylvari the Secondborn and thus put authoritative distance between their generations; she prefers the term Newly Awakened instead.
- Friend to All Living Things: Shown to be wise, caring, and pacifistic. Because of her good nature, the wary Maguuma centaurs become trusting of her and other Sylvari and are willing to share their knowledge.
- Mercy Kill: When Faolain threatens to torture Wynne to get the secret she carries out of her, Wynne pleads Caithe to kill her because she doesn't want to endure torture at the hands of a fellow Firstborn. Caithe complies and takes Wynne's burden for herself.
- Secret-Keeper: She learns from the Dream that the Sylvari are in fact minions of Mordremoth and thus meant to serve the dragon. The secret is so devastating that she and the Pale Tree decide to keep it from the rest of the Sylvari, but their secretiveness also draws Faolain's obsessive attention on Wynne with fateful results.
Heart of Thorns
The Exalted
A sect of former humans living in Tarir, the Forgotten City. Changed into beings of energy and encased in magical armor, their role is to safeguard the egg of the dragon Glint.
- Achilles' Heel: The Exalted are immortal and cannot be corrupted by dragon magic, but can be killed by tearing off their mask.
- Power Floats: Their armoured shell doesn't actually have any legs. Instead, they levitate.
- The Comically Serious: Two of them become the objects of romantic crushes by skritt, one gets partially eaten (and then spat back out) by a vinetooth, among other amusing indignities, but they all (mostly) retain entirely stoic, serene attitudes the entire time.
Living World Season 3
Aurene
Glint's second scion/daughter, Aurene is a young dragon said to play an important role in the times to come. The Player Character is tasked with protecting Aurene as her champion, while also teaching the young dragon about life.
- Badass Adorable: She may be an adorable hatchling, but she's still capable of being ferocious if provoked. Just ask Balthazar.
- Blue Is Heroic: Primarily blue in color, and she is one of the few living dragons (if not the only one) aligned with the good guys. After her growth, she gets to show her heroic side by fighting evil and protecting those who need it.
- Break the Cutie: She did not take her elder brother Vlast's death well. Later on, while still rattled by the loss of her brother, she senses the Commander's impending death and tries to save them from it, only to fail and watch what essentially was her parent get slain.
- Complete Immortality: Thanks to her eating Palawa Joko, she absorbed his lich magic, allowing her to become immortal and cheat the death she foresaw in her visions.
- Disney Death: She seemingly dies when Kralkatorrik fires his breath at her point-blank, covering her body in crystals and impaling her through the heart. It turned out she wasn't killed thanks to Palawa Joko's magic, which made her immortal, but was left immobile and unable to heal her body until the crystal was removed. She can also talk now.
- Good is Not Nice: She's genuinely a sweetheart, but she's still a dragon, push her too much or hurt her loved ones and she'll remind you of that with dragonfire strong enough to vaporize someone. Or in Joko's case, remind you that dragons in this setting feed on magic, key word on "feed".)
- Gold and White Are Divine: After absorbing Kralkatorrik's magic and a metamorphosis caused by it, Aurene changes from a tiny blue dragon to a large dragon with white scales, gold accents, and a beautiful chromatic aura. Accordingly, after this her title changes to the Elder Dragon of Crystal and Light, making her the closest thing to a benevolent god since the human Six have moved on.
- Happily Adopted: Orphaned, considering that Glint had died many years before she was born. However, she was happily taken in by the Exalted and even has a new Parental Substitute, the Commander.
- Leitmotif: Has her own theme
, aptly called Aurene. - Like a Son to Me: Not son, but daughter. It's already pretty clear that the Commander acts like Aurene's parent, but apparently this feeling is completely mutual. Rytlock confirms in Requiem that the Commander saw Aurene like their daughter. To some lesser extent, Caithe did too.
- Living MacGuffin: Because of Aurene's role in the Elder Dragon crisis, she's important for Tyria's future.
- Resurrective Immortality: She inherits Palawa Joko's version of this after devouring him, which allows her to survive Kralkatorik's attack. She still needs the Commander to remove the crystal spike lodged into her throat before she fully heals, though.
- Seers: Like her mother, Aurene possess the power to see into the future. She can even provide visions to others.
- Superior Successor: Kralkatorrik acknowledges Aurene as greater than himself, as she can handle the conflicting forces of different magics without suffering and being driven to madness like he was.
- Team Pet: To Dragon's Watch, though she probably wouldn't appreciate being called a pet.
- Took a Level in Badass: After absorbing some of Balthazar's magic, Aurene grows big and strong enough to combat Branded minions. She then takes another level after taking in Kralkatorrik's magic, and is able to help bring the Commander back from the brink of death during the Icebrood Saga.
- Worf Had the Flu: The very first mission of End of Dragons has Aurene getting most of her magic ripped out of her by the Aetherblade's siphon device and has to rest and recover. This was probably a necessity for the sake of the story because the same mission shows that the Commander and Aurene together can completely run rampant over an entire airship fleet.
Path of Fire
Shadows Agent Kito
An agent of the Order of Shadows, Kito is a NPC ally who's been helping the Commander out during Path of Fire and Living Story Season 4.
- Dark Is Not Evil: He's a member of the Order of Shadows, dresses mostly in black and do seem shady at times, but not only do he genuinely want to help people whenever possible, he's been a valuable ally for the Commander during their time in Elona.
- The Sneaky Guy: He is practically invisible when the situation calls for stealth. Plus, he wouldn't be a Shadows Agent if he wasn't sneaky.
Vlast (aka Gleam)
The first scion of Glint, and Aurene's older brother.
- Death Seeker: As revealed in one of his memory crystals, he felt so burdened by his fate of continuing Glint's work that he comes to consider death as a way to finally escape...which would partially explain his Heroic Sacrifice.
- Knight in Sour Armor: Determined to follow his mother, Glint, and carry on her legacy, but is bitter and jaded due to his isolated upbringing.
- Madden Into Misanthropy: As the child of Glint, Vlast was groomed by both the Exalted and the Forgotten as The Chosen One to continue her legacy. However, Vlast found their care smothering, and they raised him in total isolation instead of having him socialize with the races of Tyria like Glint did, a mistake they realized too late. As a result, while Vlast still follows his duty, he has grown a bitter and angry soul, unable to connect with anyone and wishing he was free of his destiny.
- Posthumous Character: While he is physically encountered, The Commander doesn't get to actually know Vlast's backstory and personality until after he's dead, by means memory crystals he left behind.
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Fights and tears through the Branded out of vengeance against Kralkatorrik for killing his mother, Glint.
- Walking Spoiler
- We Hardly Knew Ye: Barely gets a minute of screentime before he performs a Heroic Sacrifice to save the Pact Commander from being killed by Balthazar.
Zafirah
The Icebrood Saga
Bangar Ruinbringer
Imperator of the Blood Legion, and Rytlock's superior. He is introduced throwing an All-Legion Rally to strengthen the bonds between the Charr following Kralkatorrik's death, but in actuality this is a cover for him to gather followers for an attempt to seize an Elder Dragon's power.
- All for Nothing: All that death, all that subterfuge, all that alienating everyone around him, and Jormag effectively double-crosses him by not only making Ryland its new Champion, but relegating him to the role of its new Voice, effectively turning him into a glorified intercom box.
- Beat Them at Their Own Game: This was more or less Bangar's original plan in the Icebrood Saga. Beat the Commander's Elder Dragon by snagging one of his own. Not only does this completely backfire on him, but it goes so poorly that the heroes are forced to essentially fulfill his original paranoia by doing their own version of his plan in order to fight the dragon that he unleashed.
- Berserk Button: He has quite a few, but implying that his hateful views ruined his family and those he took an interest in is a big one.
- Fantastic Racism: To say that he's not fond of humans would be an understatement. He strongly hates humans, and the only reason he signed the ceasefire agreement with them is because he didn't want to risk a civil war with the Ash and Iron legions. Eventually this extends to anyone not Charr, as he indiscriminately has Norn and Tengu slaughtered as well because they might be enemies.
- The Ghost: For seven years until his debut in the Bound by Blood prologue for the Icebrood Saga, he was mentioned but not seen.
- Rytlock at one point mentions he stole Iron Legion cannons and aimed them at the Black Citadel, which might have something to do with it.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Bangar's plan to take control of Jormag as his own personal Elder Dragon leads directly into Jormag taking control of him.
- I Did What I Had to Do: Is fully convinced that every loathsome action he's undertaken is for the sake of keeping the Charr race alive, and even says as much to Almorra.
- Put on a Bus: While the most heavily converted of the Frost Legion started dropping dead almost immediately after Jormag's defeat, Bangar somehow survives to be hospitalized, though he's said to be in really bad shape and not expected to last long.
- We Can Rule Together: Somewhere deep in his shriveled husk of a heart, he wants Almorra back. However, her telling him off one last time is enough for him to kill her.
- Wrong Assumption: Bangar is convinced that the Commander has wrangled an Elder Dragon to be their personal weapon of mass destruction and wants one of his own to keep up in the arms race. He cannot comprehend that Aurene works with the Commander willingly because they're both heroes.
Ryland Steelcatcher
Bangar's second-in-command, and the son of Rytlock Brimstone.
Steel Warband
Comprised of Cinder Steeltemper, Nicabar Steelweaver, Ranoah Grindsteel, and Vishen Steelshot. Nicabar, Ranoah, and Vishen take the field in Drizzlewood Coast to command Dominion forces, but fall in battle against the Commander and the United Legions. Cinder is captured but killed by Smodur during a hostage exchange, leaving Ryland the sole survivor.
- A Day in the Limelight: The Forging Steel strike mission puts players in the bodies of one of their recruits, following them on a mission through dwarven ruins. You're given the option to compete with Cinder for most enemies killed, brew tonics with Nicabar, help Ranoah test her tank, and snipe with Vishen.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: All of them, with the exception of Ryland.
- Establishing Character Moment: The player gets a good first look at their camaraderie in the Forging Steel strike mission. Cinder casually addresses Ryland by name, he asks if that's how she talks to her centurion...and after a Beat, they all start laughing.
- Official Couple: Ryland and Cinder. He even carried a braid of her fur with him. Which made seeing Smodur cut her throat right in front of him hit even harder...
- Ragtag Bunch of Misfits: Cinder was a war orphan, Nicabar used to be a member of the Renegades, Ranoah was kicked out of her original warband after accidentally unleashing a bunch of ghosts, and Vishen was a oddball loner. Under Ryland's leadership, though, they became one of the Blood Legion's top warbands.
- Undying Loyalty: As Nicabar himself says, "Steel Wardband's loyal to the last".
End of Dragons
Ayumi
- Genki Girl: Very cute, curious, and bubbly during breather moments.
- Naïve Newcomer: Having spent most of her life dealing with human gang wars and tengu politics, she's a little bit in awe and a little bit overwhelmed at just how practiced the Commander and their allies are at fighting apocalyptic-level threats.
- Pungeon Master: If you pick her for the Not-A-Date dinner in the post-chapters, she takes great glee in describing herself as your "Wingwoman" (because she's a bird, get it?)
Detective Rama
- Broken Pedestal: He doesn't take the revelation that Minister Li is the current leader of the Purists well, to put it lightly.
- Cannot Spit It Out: Has definite feelings for his childhood friend Min, but turns into a fumble-tongued idiot when he tries to express them to her. The epilogue for "What Lies Within", the final expansion chapter for End of Dragons, gives the Commander their most challenging mission yet — keeping Rama from botching his date with Min!
- The Creon: He is a talented sleuth and could have become a Minister ages ago, but chose to remain as a Detective to do more meaningful good.
- Deadpan Snarker: Rarely raises his voice above a bored-sounding drawl, full of sass.
- Defrosting Ice King: Subtle, but evident as the story progresses. As he opens up to the Commander, he eventually drops his initially disinterested and sarcastic tone in favour of light-hearted jests, not unlike Canach.
- Half-Breed Discrimination: Mostly background though Minister Li throws it in Rama's face during the battle with him, but Rama is Canthan on his father's side and Kurzick on his mother's side. He gets this trope from both groups.I stand out as "not Canthan enough" for some people. 'Course, I'm not Kurzick enough for some people either. I had to have a thick skin.
- Seen It All: Gives off this air for most of the early chapters even as things steadily get weirder. The Void-spots in Arborstone and Minister Li's betrayal both rattle him though.
- Signature Headgear: Always seen wearing a distinctive wide-brimmed hat.
Empress Ihn
- The High Queen: Or The High Empress, rather. She is descended from a long line of Canthan royalty and is the current ruler of Cantha, which has been acknowledged as the most "powerful nation on Tyria" in contemporary times. She also carries herself with grace and cool confidence despite the weight of her role.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Though understandably put off by the manner in which Cantha and the outside world have been reconnected, she overrules Minister Li and gives the Commander the chance to prove they mean no harm to her country by bringing in the rogue Aetherblades.
- Silk Hiding Steel: She may not be a skilled fighter or a prodigal engineer, but she is the Empress of Cantha and certainly knows it; she effortlessly shuts both Joon and Minister Li down when they start arguing in her court.
Ivan
- Co-Dragons: Initially this with Ankka, until she pulled a mutiny and took most of the Aetherblades with her.
- Kindhearted Cat Lover: At the end of the storyline, he's seen having adopted all of Mai Trin's cats.
- My Master, Right or Wrong: Refuses to leave Mai Trin's side, even after most of the Aetherblades are convinced she has lost her ability to lead..
- Sad Clown: Though he remains a mostly comedic character, it's clear Mai Trin's death hits him hard.
- Third-Person Person
- Undying Loyalty: Is staunch in his service to Captain Mai Trin. As best said by Ivan himself: "When Ivan makes an oath, it's for life."
Renyak
- Mad Bomber: Very much embodies this trope. He is an ammunitions expert and is not quite all there.
Navan
- Battle Butler: Not immediately apparent, but can certainly hold her own in a fight. Especially since she's really Kuunavang.
- Canon Character All Along: Welcome back, Kuunavang!
- Heartbroken Badass: Visibly hurt by Soo-Won's entire situation and having to put down a Void-corrupted Ishan. Still ready to fight.
- Lady-In-Waiting: To Empress Ihn. As it turns out, this is merely a cover; her true identity as Kuunavang is known only to a select few individuals, including the imperial family.
Yu Joon
- Bastard Angst: While unashamed of her roots and devoted to her mother, she has also faced quite a bit of criticism for her illegitimate origins in Cantha's courts and has developed quite the superiority complex about it.
- Iron Lady: Befittingly the counterpart to Empress Ihn's The High Queen. Whereas her half-sister Empress Ihn was born into her position of power, Joon climbed tooth-and-nail to get to where she is now- as the head of Xunlai Jade, Cantha's largest and most influential corporation.
- Fiction 500
- I Work Alone: Decades of cutthroat court and business politics have convinced her that she is the only person left who gives a damn about the future of Cantha, and she will abandon anyone she sees as having betrayed her, even if they're in fact trying to help her.
- Non-Idle Rich: Is rich beyond belief, being the head of an extremely successful corporation worth over 3 billion gold but is also a workaholic who is actively involved in Cantha's progress and has the accolades to show for it.
- Self-Made Woman
- When You Coming Home, Dad? / Workaholic: Has a child, but comments from Taimi hint that her husband does most of the childrearing because she's so busy with the company and its inventions. When it looks like the world is about to end, she cries out an apology to her daughter.
Zhou Yao
- Dark and Troubled Past: Was previously affiliated with the Jade Brotherhood, but has since left under mysterious but clearly bitter terms.
- Deadpan Snarker: Is described as having a "cynical outlook" on life, delivered in small snippets of sarcasm throughout the story.
- Gadgeteer Genius: They are a talented self-taught engineer who built their own prosthetic arm and landed a position as Joon's assistant.
- Hero-Worshipper: Downplayed. They hold Joon in high regard, and judging by their barely-concealed excitement at the prospect of joining Dragon's Watch (and their gossip in certain achievements), they have also been won over by the Commander.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: Admits during the penultimate chapter of End of Dragons that they did not partake in the final battle against Void-possessed Soo-Won as "it's not what they do."
- Insufferable Genius: A milder example, but has shades of this. Yao is a gifted Jade tech engineer and is unabashed about it, readily acknowledging Mai's complement on their skills and repeatedly emphasising their "vital importance" to Xunlai Jade's operations- which, to be fair, is true.
