Heart of the Obscure
This article is about the artifact. For the 
The Heart of the Obscure is a mysterious, magical object crafted by the kodan wizard Waiting Sorrow. The ancient magics within the artifact call out for a bond to be formed between itself and the wielder, and this process occurs naturally the longer the wielder spends time with the artifact in their possession.[1] It has primarily been used to both open and seal rifts,[2] although it possesses other abilities as well.
History[edit]
Origins[edit]
Some time after joining the Wizard's Court, the kodan Waiting Sorrow created the Heart of the Obscure via unknown means. She left the artifact in her quarters in the Wizard's Tower after departing from the organization some time following the Searing of Ascalon,[3] and the Heart remained undisturbed for many years.
Secrets of the Obscure[edit]
Just before the Kryptis breached the defenses of the Wizard's Tower, the recent Astral Ward recruit Zojja found the Heart of the Obscure in Waiting Sorrow's quarters and began studying it, becoming one of its wielders along with First Hunter Rian and Second Hunter Kamilla.[1][2][4] When the Kryptis attacks grew in intensity and spread to Amnytas and Skywatch Archipelago, Zojja handed the Heart over to the visiting Pact Commander in 1336 AE while pointing out that she was still learning the depths of its power. With Rian and Kamilla's help, the Commander began learning more about the Heart and mastering its use while trying to push the Kryptis invaders back.
Janthir Wilds[edit]
Powers[edit]
- Rift sealing
The Heart of the Obscure generally acts as the conduit for its wielder's emotional energy as a source of power that allows it to accomplish many different tasks. The artifact has the ability to both open and seal rifts from the Mists and elsewhere by following their astral frequency, using its wielder's desire to face the rift intruders as an emotional power source to help locate the rifts.[2] Using charms called motivations to strengthen the connection between the artifact and its wielder allows the Heart to attune to stronger emotions hidden within its wielder and lure out more dangerous enemies from the rifts.[4]
- Arcane reaction triggering
It can trigger spectral and arcane reactions from wisps that hold a deceased person's memory, attracting ghosts to its presence.[5]
- Bloodstone neutralization
It can neutralize bloodstone shards by draining magic out of them and dispersing it, thus freeing the ghosts trapped within and allowing the ghosts to move on to their designated afterlife.[6] It can also manifest physical written works and memories tied to the neutralized bloodstone shards.[7]
- Essence dispersal and object ward neutralization
It can release emotional, memory, and life essence from containers such as reliquaries and hit powerful beings, who have devoured said essence, with a blast of magic to disperse the essence in them. It can also open doors and chests sealed with powerful Kryptis or wizard magic.[8][9]
- Possession and illness cleansing
It can cleanse people possessed by Kryptis or corrupted by other entities such as bloodstone ghosts by drawing out the possessive being or emotional energy such as angst from the affected person to then battle the possessors directly.[10][11][12] In the case of specific demon possession where the demon cannot be exorcised as easily, the Heart's power can be used to channel the essence of touchstones, personal items which have deep emotional ties to the possessed people, to cleave the demonic essence from the possessed souls and release the souls from their designated afterlife realms in the Mists.[13][14][15] The Heart can also channel its power through the Arcane Osmogrifier, an artifact of essence manipulation, into beings to heal them from an illness caused by exposure to Kryptis influence.[16]
- Soul destruction and sealing
It can destroy spirits permanently or seal away what remains of the spirit.[17][18]
- Text translation
It can translate certain languages such as mursaat script into the wielder's language.[19][20]
Gallery[edit]
The Heart of the Obscure scanning for rifts.
References[edit]
- ^ a b Mother of Stars
- First Hunter Rian: Your eagerness is welcome, but there remains one step before I teach you how to locate rifts. The Heart must be attuned.
- First Hunter Rian: The ancient magics within the artifact call out for a bond to be formed between itself and the wielder.
- First Hunter Rian: It should be a simple matter of spending time with the artifact in your possession, doing whatever you normally do. [...]
- First Hunter Rian: Thankfully that device of yours—the Heart of the Obscure—has given us a new windfall. In your hands? A blessing.
- First Hunter Rian: They found it in Waiting Sorrow's quarters just before we lost the tower...
- First Hunter Rian: Don't know what she made it for, but the Heart's ability to open and seal rifts by following their astral frequency is impressive.
- First Hunter Rian: I've not much more time with the Heart than you, but let me guide you.
- First Hunter Rian: The Heart of the Obscure is capable of astonishing things.
- First Hunter Rian: It can act as a conduit for your emotional energy, channeling it as a source of power.
- First Hunter Rian: Now, hold the Heart aloft and focus your thoughts on the demonic rifts, and your desire to hunt down these...intruders. [...]
- Story journal: Rian taught me how to use the Heart of the Obscure—the device that Zojja gave me in the battle prior that we used to close rifts at the Beacon of Ages. Apparently, it was crafted by a kodan wizard named Waiting Sorrow who has since left the Astral Ward (on somewhat precarious terms, I hear). Whenever I channel the device's power, strange waves of emotion seem to guide me forward. Though I can't describe why, I feel a strong connection to it already.
- ^ a b c Hell Breaks Loose
- <Character name>: What is this thing?
- Zojja: The Heart of the Obscure. We're still learning the depths of its power, but we know it can seal and open rifts.
- Zojja: Found it stuffed in— Not important, Zojja! We need to take control of this situation!
- ^ Unknown Territory
- <Character name>: Waiting Sorrow, as in your missing wizard? Not a lot, besides the fact that she created the Heart of the Obscure.
- Frode: Indeed. I've never met her, of course, as she's been missing since before Ascalon burned to the ground...
- ^ a b Into the Obscure
- Second Hunter Kamilla: When I first handled the device, I felt a yearning in it. It had curiosity for me, perhaps. As I, it.
- Second Hunter Kamilla: I followed this "pull" and melded a spell—a charm, of sorts, that would strengthen the connection between wielder and the Heart.
- Second Hunter Kamilla: I've taken to calling them "motivations." They should enable the Heart to attune to even stronger emotions, hidden within you.
- ^ Into the Valley of Shadow
- Story journal: And then, just like that, the wisp appeared once again. This time I examined it, although I was still unable to identify it. Waiting Sorrow suggested using the Heart of the Obscure. I was skeptical, to say the least. Sure enough, the heart set things into motion. All at once, we were surrounded by countless mursaat ghosts. We'd triggered a spectral ambush!
- ^ Finding Balance
- Waiting Sorrow: If the titans are siphoning energy from bloodstone, neutralizing the shards may nullify their advantage.
- Waiting Sorrow: Something the Heart of the Obscure should be more than capable of. [...]
- Story journal: Since the titans have been using the area's bloodstone to replenish their energy, Waiting Sorrow proposed neutralizing it with the Heart of the Obscure. Clever. But like any hypothesis, we had to test it. Our attempt at neutralizing the bloodstone was successful, but not without consequences. The magical blowback from the exploding bloodstone is quite powerful and must be handled with care.
- ^ A Legacy Damned
- <Character name>: You were right. The Heart didn't cause an explosion. But it did yield...a letter. [...]
- Story journal: Again, I used the Heart on a nearby bloodstone shard. This time, it brought to life memories of Manikaz's death.
- ^ First Hunter Rian
- ^ The Eleventh Hour
- Ramses: Wait. Wayfinder. Can your Heart of the Obscure set free their essence peacefully? They deserve that much, at least. [...]
- Isgarren: Peitha, Wayfinder, join your power with mine. The Heart! [...]
- Story journal: We combined our strength—Isgarren and Peitha, with me wielding the Heart of the Obscure—hitting Eparch with a blast of magic strong enough to prevent him from healing himself.
- ^ Exorcise the possessed researchers
- ^ Help Narcisse purge corruption from the plants!
- ^ Help Gosta Contact the Restless Spirits
- ^ Channel Touchstone skill description
- ^ A Titanic Undertaking
- Mabon: By releasing their souls from the Realm of Torment, you can close the gate for good. But you must act soon.
- <Character name>: How do we release their souls?
- Mabon: I suspect a few touchstone objects exist within the confines of Tyria that will be key in their release.
- ^ Salvation's Cost
- Mabon: Tormented as their souls might be, these items shall resonate with their owners enough to cleave the demonic essence. [...]
- Waiting Sorrow: Wayfinder, the prayer book. Use the Heart to channel its essence into his soul.
- ^ Skyscale Trainer Dyanne
- ^ Finish Yagon skill description
- ^ Penance for the Past
- Isgarren: The Heart of the Obscure. Finish her. NOW. [...]
- Story journal: Wielding the Heart, I sealed away what remained of her.
- ^ Ancient Scroll (object)
- ^ Researcher's Record
