Arbor Bay.
The place we begin our journey into the Tarnished Coast, likewise seems an appropriate area to begin with. This area is most well known to those involved with the lore for the perplexing ruins found in a cavern outside Vlox's Falls, and also, the Sylvari Tree to the south which is tended by our old friend Ventari, and a new fellow, Ronan. However, what I find most striking are not these common sights, but rather, the variety of enemies here. Although now it strikes me that I should have gotten screenshots of the Wind Riders' circling Ventari's Sanctuary, this can be a fairly bothersome task to do without disrupting their patrol. And aside from that, my thoughts were elsewhere, on the Krait, for this is the only other area in which one can find them. Yet, their placement, much like in Magus Stones, is intriguing.
Arbor Bay screenshot.
Immediately as you leave Vlox's Falls, you run into either two or three Krait right outside. Now, we know for obvious reasons why they don't just raid Vlox's Falls, but these creatures are described as being xenophobic, so, the question is, how on Tyria did the Asura manage to occupy that small outpost with such vicious creatures around? And likewise, how did Ventari and his small ragtag band of fellows manage to set up their little sanctuary?
Another peculiar element to this is that these Krait are far from the main body of the Krait found in the water to the south, albeit close to the Krait that, for some reason, are blocking the path to the caverns known for their ruins. However, despite their xenophobia, they don't bother attacking the Simians to the north of the entrance they're found in front of. Which is just one more peculiar element, as we know that this could have been done, as we see the Sensali Tengu attacking Yeti on Shing Jea Island. Perhaps they are not xenophobic after all?
Alcazia Tangle.
This area is probably well known to many players, both for Tarnished Haven, and the quest chains originating from there, not to mention the story takes you through here to see Renk at his little coastal lab. However, since these are well known, I won't bother elaborating any further on them, and instead move on to the more subtle details, that many players may not notice.
Alcazia Tangle screenshot.
The fountain found here may also be known by many players, as one must go here to claim the Grimoire Arcanum from a group of White Mantle. However, what is most interesting, aside from the fountain itself, are the walls around it, and the general design of the land. It would appear, although it cannot be seen by my screenshots here, that someone raised the land, albeit not for farming reasons as is common throughout Kryta. Due to this, the reason for why this was done is unknown.
However, far more fascinating than that are these stone heads found on the side of one of these tiered off sections of land. They are the only structures of their kind anywhere along the Tarnished Coast, not even resembling the heads that pour forth the waterfalls in Riven Earth. And even stranger, is that the largest head's eyes actually follow your character's movements.
It doesn't serve any known purpose either. Although Elizabeth Genevieve, one of my fellow guildmates, noted a curious quest reward from Istan as she read about it on the wiki after I pointed it out to her. Unfortunately, after she did the quest to see if the heads would react, nothing occurred. As such, their purpose and placement remains a mystery.
Magus Stones.
As my guild mates can tell you, I spent quite a bit of time here, and I may as well know it as well as the back of my hand. This area is normally renowned for various things, such Oola's Lab, Arachni's Haunt, and, perhaps even the floating stones there that create its namesake.
There are three major racial groups here, the Krait, the Hylek, and the Wind Riders. One of which, tends to be commonplace throughout Tyria, is the Wind Rider. Interestingly, the Hylek are only found here, and are drastically different in coloration to the Agari, although this is likely due to survival reasons. Last of all, the Krait, which are found only in Magus Stones, and Arbor Bay. Interestingly, they, along with the Frogmen, the Hylek and Agari, appear to be the only even moderately intelligent creatures native to the Tarnished Coast. As, while easily unnoticed, the Neoss have what looks to be leather hide armor, the Necross has a necklace, and the Hypnoss is the most well adorned of all of their type, with rather flamboyant jewelry around draped around its neck. And, as I'm sure many are aware, the Hylek and Agari are also adorned with clothing, and, at least with the Agari, we know them to have structures.
Now, for the screenshots.
The Krait:
Krait screenshot 1.
The southern (in relation to Rata Sum) plains of Magus Stones, full of Krait from side to side. What is interesting here, is that they occupy ruins which are either flooded, or supported an unknown usage, but this is not their only occupation of such ruins as seen below.
Krait screenshot 2.
Shining blade corpses.
What is interesting to note here is, as can be seen, the Krait seem to have either raided this location, or they have possibly reclaimed it. What makes it rather unclear, is as one can see, the Shining Blade corpses. So there are the following possibilities, including those noted above:
- The Krait raided the ruins the Shining Blade were occupying.
- The Shining Blade ignorantly began occupation of ruins the Krait claimed, which they subsequently reclaimed.
- These are, in fact, Krait structures, that they have always lived in, that while elsewhere, the Shining Blade began occupying.
A gate that serves no purpose, out in the middle of nowhere, south of another plain full of stones and Wind Riders and north of the plain noted at the beginning. For some reason, the Krait can be found here as well, and while there are a few groups in the plains to the north, it still begs the question of why they're here, unless it's merely to defend the Krait found up ahead.
Krait screenshot 4.
And east of that plain, we find a bridge, with, yet again, Krait. It's rather peculiar that each group, with the exception of a few, can be found next to so many structures.
The Hylek:
Previously, if I am not mistaken, many of us were unaware of these structures that display the Hylek, and the Agari, are both at the same level of civilization, at least in terms of architecture.
Hylek Structures 1.
Hylek Structures 2.
Hylek Structures 3.
Hylek Structures 4.
Hylek Structures 5.
The only major difference I note here, between the Hylek and the Agari, is the placement of the structures. The Hylek seem to hold a preference to the water, whereas the Agari seem to prefer their structures on land, although for reasons I am uncertain of.
The Wind Riders:
Ah, the Wind Riders, a familiar..Face, that we encounter in various forms, but are common to the Maguuma Jungle to the north of the Tarnished Coast. What is most striking about the Wind Riders here, however, is their seemingly unnatural behavior around the stones in the plain they reside in. One can easily find single Wind Riders circling certain stones, and, if you don't get too close, they'll just continue on and on, for unknown reasons.
Wind Rider behavior screenshot.
And that is all, I didn't bother with Riven Earth as my research had several different focuses, and this is just one of the turnouts from this. One could also call this, The List of Anomalies in the Tarnished Coast, I suppose. However, I will shortly be posting two theories formed from my observations here. One of which is already known to one of my guildmates, and is probably apparent simply from this.
