The Powers of the Blood Stones and their possible locations.

[Konig Des Todes]

First, Shards of Orr isn't technically close, the two dungeons are across the Sea of Sorrows from each other. Shards of Orr just seems close because we travel through an Asura gate to get to Gadd's Encampment.

Second, if the Aggression Bloodstone is linked the Necromancy (and I assume your throughts for the others are: denial=Mesmer, preservation=monk, and destruction=elementalist), then a better support for that would be the non-hostile and hostile undead on the second floor, near the 3 Plinths and 2 broken Monoliths, just before the exit to level three.

Third, I hope in GW2, ANet professions to have magic only related to the bloodstones (Ritualists, Assassins, and Dervishes, which Bloodstone do their's come from?)

Edit: Wow. Maybe I should read through the thread. I looked at the OP and saw the whole Bloodstone=Profession thing >.<

I'l read through tomorrow or something. I should read through a ton of the other long threads as well, at least the OP of them. Would give me something to do when I'm bored. And maybe I can think of something to add or another new theory for some discussion on here.

[Konig Des Todes]

I'd hate to double post, but this is on a different note from above.

I went ahead and did a little project because I could not sleep, which was given me the idea by terakhan wanting to see where the bloodstone in bloodstone caves is exactly. I went and took the Tyria map and made a little circle of the minimum coverage of where the other two Bloodstones can be exactly, if on land.

Here is the map:

Spoiler

Not surprising that one can easily land in Orr. I wonder if a bloodstone is in the water over there.

I might do the bloodstone caves map layered over the world map if I'm not tired by the time I find as clean as possible maps of the dungeon.

Edit:
I went ahead and made a very crude overlay map.

Spoiler

NOTE: I had to rotate the level 2 map 180 degrees in order to match up the exit/entrance between level 1 and level 2. There might or might not be some area between the two. So this map can never get more then just a possible. Although the exit/entrance of the two levels fits perfectly (and the exit/entrance between level 2 and 3 line up very well as well with the rotation of the level 2 map).

Also, the maps might not be scaled the same, but I think they are scaled the same.

So without the dungeon map, the location of this bloodstone would be shown in this one:

Spoiler

And without the circle filled:

Spoiler

Again, this might not be accurate because of the second level's connection.

Something to consider: The bloodstone would be situated right where there is a little black-ish outline in the mountains, and it is actually in the Shiverpeaks, not so much the coast.

I wonder why there isn't snow coming down with that kind of location.

Yet Another Edit:
I realized, that because there is no north, south, east, west on the wiki dungeon maps, that made me prone to flipping the second level around. So I went into the dungeon to see which way the three maps really would be, and I redid my little map overlay based on that. Again, because we do not know what distance is in-between the different levels, this may not be accurate. But it is probably more accurate.

Spoiler

[akbaroth]

I personally support the idea that each of the bloodstones coordinates to the power of the core casters, preservation=monk, desruction=ele, aggression=necro, denial=mezmer. i am also under the impression rits get their power from "the spirit threads" can't remember where i read that, but it was early in factions. dervs follow all gods, like eles do (according the factions manuscripts) and thusly get power from all 5(6) adding up to just enough magic to help, sins... no clue what their power comes from, mabe some thread of aggresion, IMO a lot of sin hexes are similar to necro curses.

but thats all a little off topic, here the real reason i posted: to sum up all the known/possible locations of bloodstones, and how likely i feel each uncertain aspect is:

1)bloodstone fen, i been supporting that being preservation for years now, due to all the healing waters, but i don't take that as absolute fact.

2)abbadon's mouth, i don't think we have enough support for wut this one could be, tho i do c how one could guess it's the keystone. i'm also glad MOST ppl accept that it's location so close to the volcano could imply keystone, but doesn't mean it for fact.

3)bloodstone caves, this one (i find) is hard to deny that it is aggresion if, and only if, we beleive aggresion to be necromancey. first off all the undead tward the bottom there, the boon of health cuased by death one receives nearing it, and the necromancers around it (livia, gadd is described as a necro in the hero's handbook for that arc, livia also mentions learing a lot about necromancey in a cutscene).

4) the southern shiverpeaks, i think we've done a good enough job of prooving that there isn't one there, unless it's the one in the bloodstone caves. i'm not saying there can't be one, but just doesn't seem likely.

5) lots of water around, kind of hard for a volcano to launch giant stone that far (to the mainland) in the first place (maybe i am just not familiar with the strength of an eruption).
5a) Orr, i find it very unlikley that one landed in orr, or at least, i find it very unlikely it was connected to the cataclysm. if i can heal ppl on my monk off in the jade sea, then i don't need to be close to the preservation stone to use it's power. but that is probably more personal opinion than anything else.
5b) water lots of water i think both the remaining stone that we have not fought on top of landing in the water.

any way, there u have my 2... no... 48? no, 49 cents.

[Konig Des Todes]

A thought about the Bloodstone of Preservation in the Maguuma Jungle.

Well, it's obvious that there are Arid areas in the Maguuma, if one is to look at the map, there would be two large arid areas. The first, more noticable, would reach from the southwest corner of Ettin's Back and Dry Top, all the way to the Northeast of Majesty's Rest. The other is at and west of Bloodstone Fen.

Now what caused the Arid areas? I believe it was the crash of the Bloodstone itself, and if it wasn't the Bloodstone of Preservation that landed there, the Maguuma would be no more then another desert, other then the southern portion, where the Falls is and where Tangle Root is, and of course the Tarnished Coast. The waters in the Maguuma, empowered by the Bloodstone of Preservation, allows the plantlife to thrive, preventing most of the Maguuma from becoming and Arid Desert.

Now in a few areas, which are Bloodstone Fen, Aurora Glade, and Sage Lands, the top areas are Arid, while you can walk just a few feet down and meet lush green, then shortly later you see the magical water. In Bloodstone Fen, the area is riddled with water, which is why you don't see any Arid areas when in the mission itself, save for the beginning which is high up. Aurora Glade only has a few pools of water at the southwest corner, which provides explanation why, as you head Northeast, the green becomes less and less, until finally it becomes Arid.Sage Lands just has pockets of water, and those pockets are the lush areas, everywhere else there is none.

What is really interesting, is if you look at the old map, when unexplored, almost the entire Maguuma Jungle is Arid, only the Tarnished Coast, The Falls/Tangle Root and the Northeast corner of The Wilds (where the bonus is - which is near a big lake) are jungle areas in the old map.

Here is an unexplored and an explored version of the old map.

Spoiler

How the old unexplored map looks is how I would picture the maguuma being if it was a different Bloodstone that landed there. An Arid area, no longer much of a Jungle. The new map, even when unexplored, shows jungle all around, except for the two areas I mentioned before. And north of the Maguuma now has more green in the land then it did before. Suggesting that there is a continuation of the jungle/arid scenery.

[terakhan]

Well, decided to do a survey of the Bloodstone Cave, to see what I could figure out. Here are the most prominent elements I could find:

Spoiler

A) The Mursaat jade material: This could indicate a number of things, for the stones or the Mursaat. I will leave this matter for speculation later.

B) The torment library pillar: Though it could also be called the Vabbian library pillar, the colors are those from the torment duplicate of it.

C) The shattered tables: Broken stone tables don't usually mean anything, and maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, but fully assembled, don't those tables match precisely to the tablet form of the various Apocrypha-type creatures in Nightfall?

D) The front gate of the BSC itself: The fact that it has the inscriptions from the bloodstones of the other sites indicates that the entire complex was constructed to house the stone, leaving the question of the architects.

E) The shattered gateway: What we have here I found the most interesting. Just behind the zone portal leading from the first area to the second, we have what looks like a shattered Asuran gate, and behind that a ruptured wall with lines of the appearance of magma tracing over it.

What I did not demonstrate, simply because of its abundance, was the architecture reminiscent of the Ascalonian catacombs throughout the entire complex.

Here are the questions that I think are left to be discussed on the site

- If that is an Asuran gate, where did it go to before its destruction?
> This question, I don't think will ever be answered, simply because the only way to find out would be to repair it and go through.

- What ruptured the wall and presumably broke the gate? Why were the wall and gate constructed where they were?
> Were I to hazard a guess, I might suspect destroyers, but that would be entirely based on the red markings on the wall with no other supporting evidence. As for the second part, the most direct answer would be to seal the bloodstone away.

- Who were the architects of the BSC complex?
This is a hard one to answer, simply due to the number of influences visible within. We have an abundance of Ascalonian-styled architecture, but also the suggestions of Torment influence in the text pillars and the shattered tables. Not to mention the gate constructed between the first and second areas.

- Why are there indications of an Abaddonian influence in the complex?
This one puzzles me. From a non-lore design standpoint, the pillars alone are so deliberate of a decoration they couldn't just be space filler, and I feel the tables just seal the deal, so to speak. Further, look at what was necessary to enter the complex and delve deeper. Living creatures inscribed with magical runes, the second guessed to be guarding something by Gadd. This being the one standing in the area of the pillars and tables and backed up by a small army of undead that vanishes upon its death.

- Is the jade material the bloodstone itself or a shell covering it?
As there is no evidence of that material anywhere in the Ring of Fire that doesnt have a direct Mursaat influence, I am assuming the stones themselves are the 'jade' material. Following this assumption, the Mursaat then were constructing their fortress, gateways, warrior, and pretty much the entire defense of the stone remaining in the caldera from the stones themselves. This would also explain the Ether Seals, as the Bloodstones were made to contain and seal away the overabundance of magic Abaddon distributed, and the Ether Seals do take magic from the area around them.

As a parting note, having worn myself out mentally puzzling over this, there is an area in the second section where you can look up and see a jungle canopy overhead, meaning that at least the north section of the second area is not in the mountains yet.

[Jair of the Forest]

If all these buildings are build around The Bloodstone to protect it, than it wouldn't be unlikely that they were built by King Doric's ancestors. After all they were the ones that were ordered by Dwayna to protect The Bloodstones.

[Konig Des Todes]

My comments on your items of speculations:

A) I believe the red to be the actual bloodstone (the grey in BC and the black in AM/BF are rocks that formed from magma hardening and the area, imo). The color seems far too red, and not purple enough, to be the "jade" of the Jade Armors.

B) It's called a "Plinth" (Vabbian counter-part are called "Stacks"). Reason for why it's there is unknown to me. The room is special to that dungeon alone so there must be a reason.

C) The 3 tablets are in fact, broken Monoliths. Just like the Plinths, they have a relation to Abaddon and are exclusive to that dungeon.

D) I think these seals help "contain and control" the bloodstone's power. This would make sense to me, as the souls on the other two bloodstones would be transfered to the soul batters, the inscriptions help direct that power to putting the souls in the bloodstone. Also, as you progress into the dungeon, you remove more of those seals, and get closer to the Bloodstone, with fewer and fewer seals. While doing this, the power of the Bloodstone gets stronger and stronger.

E) I think this is purely from the effect of a re-used dungeon level (this is used in Vlox's Excavations lvl 2, Ooze Pits, and HoS lvl 1 at least). But that does not mean that the gate was not destroyed when searching for the Bloodstone (by those who created the seals, if it wasn't the Mursaat).

- What ruptured the wall and presumably broke the gate? Why were the wall and gate constructed where they were?
> Were I to hazard a guess, I might suspect destroyers, but that would be entirely based on the red markings on the wall with no other supporting evidence. As for the second part, the most direct answer would be to seal the bloodstone away.

Look above for my thought on the gate's destruction.

- Who were the architects of the BSC complex?
This is a hard one to answer, simply due to the number of influences visible within. We have an abundance of Ascalonian-styled architecture, but also the suggestions of Torment influence in the text pillars and the shattered tables. Not to mention the gate constructed between the first and second areas.

I'll have to look through again for the Ascalonian architecture (but most dungeons have that), the gate might be simply from a level reuse, and, with the seals and the quests The Blade's Essence, The Arrow's Point, and Crystal Method, I would think that the Mursaat built the place, and that some are hiding in the Ettins.

Hail, (character name). Our scouts have continued exploring the Bloodstone Caves since you and Gadd reached the Bloodstone. They've reported some pretty odd ettin behavior. The brutes are harvesting some strange shimmering essence, perhaps to restore the dungeon's defenses. We're not really sure. One thing is certain, though, if that essence is ties to the Bloodstone, then it contains power. Perhaps we could enchant our blades with it..."

We don't have the numbers to deal with the beasts, so I ask this of you: bring the essence to me. Destroy anything that gets in your way. Will you do this?
...
...
The guardians of the Bloodstone Caves are harvesting arcane crystal shards deep within the dungeon. We are in need of more supplies, and in the hands of a good fletcher those shards can turn ordinary arrows into armor-piercing thunderbolts. Before our archers, the White Mantle will be little more than a legion of leaky flesh bags. Go! Fetch me a crystal!
...
...
Ah, so you've returned for more punishment, <Character Name>! Very good. Guess what? One of our scouts barely escaped with his life, but he brought back a tale of a fierce, ornery ettin, more fearsome than anything we've yet slain. It was, predictably, gathering spectral crystals. I'm not sure what has addicted these lumbering hulks to to the magic crystals, but there is no doubt in my mind it is tied to the Bloodstone. They must be ours. Deal this ettin a deadly blow and bring us what is ours. Are you prepared to risk life...and looks...for us this one last time?
...

These parts point out that the Ettins are clearly fixated on the Bloodstone, and with knowing about how Lazarus survived by splitting his essence and putting them into different White Mantle, what is to stop other Mursaat from doing the same? But with Ettins.

- Why are there indications of an Abaddonian influence in the complex?
This one puzzles me. From a non-lore design standpoint, the pillars alone are so deliberate of a decoration they couldn't just be space filler, and I feel the tables just seal the deal, so to speak. Further, look at what was necessary to enter the complex and delve deeper. Living creatures inscribed with magical runes, the second guessed to be guarding something by Gadd. This being the one standing in the area of the pillars and tables and backed up by a small army of undead that vanishes upon its death.

Because of all the hostile and non-hostile undead in the area (you only see non-hostile when you do the dungeon, they don't all vanish), I think this is ANet either tosses a dead end at us to see if we try to connect the Orrian Undead to Abaddon (other then via Khilbron) or that they are really planning on putting another connection.

Although, a possible thought would be (simplified):

Bloodstone in Bloodstone Caves=Bloodstone of Aggression
Bloodstone of Aggression's profession=Necromancer
Power of Necromancer=Undead
Source of Bloodstone=Abaddon's Magic
Source of Undead=Abaddon's Magic
Room of Undead+Objects of Abaddon=Abaddon/Undead/Bloodstone connection

Link verified.

If the connection was meant to be the last, then I assume it was added for the sake of 1. verifying that this is the Necromancer Bloodstone (most likely Aggression) and 2. The Bloodstones are linked to Abaddon *for those without NF*.

- Is the jade material the bloodstone itself or a shell covering it?
As there is no evidence of that material anywhere in the Ring of Fire that doesnt have a direct Mursaat influence, I am assuming the stones themselves are the 'jade' material. Following this assumption, the Mursaat then were constructing their fortress, gateways, warrior, and pretty much the entire defense of the stone remaining in the caldera from the stones themselves. This would also explain the Ether Seals, as the Bloodstones were made to contain and seal away the overabundance of magic Abaddon distributed, and the Ether Seals do take magic from the area around them.

Like I said, that stone looks too red to be the jade material, and I would say that they are the true bloodstone (like the blood-red spikes coming out of the other two bloodstones, the rest being buried by other rock). I do agree with your Ether Seal-Bloodstone connection though, that does make sense, but for the entire Onyx Gate and the fortress on the Island chain to be made completely out of bloodstone, and then to add on the Jade Armors, I just cannot agree.

Not to mention, that in D'Alessio Seaboard mission, and in Riverside Province, you can see green casings of the Jade Armors. I suppose this is where they get the "jade" name from.

If all these buildings are build around The Bloodstone to protect it, than it wouldn't be unlikely that they were built by King Doric's ancestors. After all they were the ones that were ordered by Dwayna to protect The Bloodstones.

I don't recall it ever saying that they were ordered by Dwayna to protect the Bloodstones, just that their blood would allow the uniting of the Bloodstones. Also, with the Volcano erupting and tossing the Bloodstones all over Tyria, I would believe that they wouldn't know where they landed. Might know of one or two, but no more.

Thought: Now that Orr is destroyed, and the survivors are very few, are there any descendants left of King Doric? Is it even possible anymore to unite the Bloodstones? (which, I admit, was something I thought would be the main plot device, before I started playing and after reading the manuscripts, but I was also thinking I'd get to fight through islands of ruined buildings riddled with undead... what a shame.)

[Jair of the Forest]

I don't recall it ever saying that they were ordered by Dwayna to protect the Bloodstones, just that their blood would allow the uniting of the Bloodstones. Also, with the Volcano erupting and tossing the Bloodstones all over Tyria, I would believe that they wouldn't know where they landed. Might know of one or two, but no more.

They sealed the stones with Doric's blood (hence the name Bloodstones) and placed him and his dynasty in charge of guarding the stones.

Actually, what I think is that at the time of the eruption of the volcano there was an order of ancestors of Doric who were guarding the Bloodstones (before the Mursaat arrived at the Ring of Fire, that is) or at least keeping an eye out. After the eruption they might have searched for the Stones, of which some had been found, and some maybe not. If there are still Ancestors of Doric around I don't know, but my guess is that, because of the (likely) courageous and leader'ish nature of Doric's Ancestors they all lost their lives in heroic ways during the Guild Wars and other wars.

[Gmr Leon]

I think that, even if the reddish jadish coloration of stone is the actual Bloodstone, we shouldn't bother distinguishing the two. They're both obviously stuck to one another, making one large stone, so why distinguish the two?

Also, if that's the actual Bloodstone, then how do you explain the ones in Abaddon's Mouth and Bloodstone Fen still reacting as a Bloodstone, but not having the reddish jadish stone covering them?

I think that both the stone and the reddish jadish part are the Bloodstone as a whole.

Not to mention, that in D'Alessio Seaboard mission, and in Riverside Province, you can see green casings of the Jade Armors. I suppose this is where they get the "jade" name from.

I'm more willing to consider those are built by the White Mantle for aesthetic appeal. Notice that you never, not even once, see one of those bursting apart and forming a Jade.

Thought: Now that Orr is destroyed, and the survivors are very few, are there any descendants left of King Doric? Is it even possible anymore to unite the Bloodstones?

Jair already pointed this out, but you don't need the blood of Doric's descendants to unite the Bloodstones. You just need to somehow drag the Bloodstones to the Keystone. It might as well be looked at as a self-destruct Tyria safeguard. As to whether or not there are descendants..Let's put it this way, King Doric was in Ascalon, Kryta, and Orr..There's a high chance he met and led many women to his private quarters.

I don't think that's the connection they had exactly intended..However..The Undead could be performing another duty we're unaware of. Orrians were extremely devout people, they considered Abaddon heresy. There's a large chance that the Undead we encounter in that chamber are trying to guard or intimidate any who come near the Stacks/Plinths. I mean, the majority even fight you when you come near there, and if I remember correctly that's one of the largest concentrations of Undead in the Bloodstone Caves.

[Jair of the Forest]

Another thought; it is possible the buildings in Bloodstone Caves were build around the Bloodstone, but there is another possibility. I guess the Bloodstone could have accidentally fallen into a cave which used to house an ancient civilization, or used to be some sort of a Margonite Outpost (think Plinths; think Abbadon. The cave is quite close to the Sea too, and the Margonites were Seafarers after all) along the Bay of Sirens.

4 Bloodstones were scattered amongst Tyria, it is not unlikely at all one of them ended up between one of the many ruins in Tyria.