3 Qs: Lion's Arch Gods; "Trail Markers"; Message Icon Check Marks?

At Lion's Arch there are at least four damaged statues of gods that periodically rise and sort of come to life with ghostly representations near them. I'm a L17.8 W/E but even after reading the marker by each statues was not able to interact with any of them let alone the warrior one. Do they have something to do with ascension--something that I have heard of but am probably no where near being ready for (although I would like to change my secondary profession from E to M)? I've finished 7 missions in Prophecies.

At least two times on the path from the Temple of the Ages to The Villainy of Galrath the party ran across what looked like a light-pulsating trail marker or the like in the middle of a path. Couldn't react with them. What are these?

In these forums some of my message icons get check marks in them. What do they mean/represent?

Thank you.

1. Do you mean the statues at TOA? These are to access the Fissure of Woe and Underworld, when your area server has favor. You character must be "ascended." (Crystal Desert quests)

2. Don't know about the marks on the trail, didn't notice them last time through. Don't find any mention in guildwiki.

Those lights are just for decoration - they don't mean anything.

Checkmarks mean you've reponded to the thread.

check your quest log to see i which quest is active and if there is something you have to complete in that current markered location.

Some shrines don't appear to be active and I've never tested it because I don't like dying but are these inactive shrines that you will not res to? Instead you will res to the closest active shrine?

I'm going to play out Prophecies before playing any of Factions or Nightmare (ROTFL--I meant Nightfall) for story lore reasons. But are there other subtle reasons why I should merge Factions and Nightfall into the game now even though I don't visit any areas proper in them?

Thanks. I'm now L18 with 8 missions completed. Divinity Coast is next but I'm backtracking to Lion's Arch for one finished quest loose end.

Yes...sorry about that--and thanks for the explanation. I don't seem to be near that part of the game yet.

Alternatively, statues that are not in the Temple of Ages, such as the statue of Dwayna in Nebo Terrace will grant you certain bonuses/blessings should you donate some gold. In Tyria, these bonuses are one of two things, Holy Blessing (to conquest) which grants you +25 maximum health and +3 health regeneration, or Morale Boost (to courage) +2% morale boost. The other game locations (Cantha and Elona) have statues with different bonuses. These bonuses are only available when your region has favor, which you can tell by whether or not the statue is active, active statues have special effects, inactive ones are dead. You can find out more about the statues, including their locations etc at the following links

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Statue
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Blessing