User:Shai Halud/The De-Petrification of Echovald Forest

Since certain parts of the lore indicate that the Jade Sea will have returned to water by the time of GW2, why not provide a parallel development in Echovald Forest. Of course, this is a bit more difficult to imagine as a stone forest suited the Kurzick culture so well. The stone trees and structures could be left in place and could have simply become covered or overgrown with new foliage. Alternatively, their buildings which were carved out of the petrified trees could become living wood and Echovald would then take on the appearence of a seriously overgrown forest.

It might be interesting if the forest became enchanted by a Dragon or a Sylvari-like entity which the Kurzicks were at war with (along with the trees it controls). It might have forced them to abandon Echovald and build great stone fortresses and walled cities on the edge of the forest and the slopes of the western mountains as thier new homes, that way, they could retain thier Gothic asthetic. Also, a more forest friendly race might have come to inhabit Echovald in small numbers. In this scenario, Echovald would become the buffer zone between the Luxons and the Kurzicks, and the mountains west and southwest of Echovald Forest would become open to exploration.


 * Why this is a good idea
 * If the Jade Sea can return to water, then the Echovald Forest should be able to regain its foliage in some form
 * Makes it so we don't have to explore the same area twice
 * Keeps the story dynamic and might open new areas to exploration
 * Would add to the GW2 theme of a new world rising from the ruins of the old


 * Why it may not work out
 * Changing the landscape of Cantha too much might be overdoing it
 * Won't thrill fans of the old Echovald Forest
 * Echovald would no longer match the Gothic asthetic of the Kurzicks. I have to think that, if they are still in Echovald, they have either built stone cities and castles, or they are still in the process of abandoning the forest and building new homes elsewhere.
 * When trees pertrify they stay petrified. So maybe there might be other plants growing inside the echovauld, though with such inadequate sunlight the best plants might be the type to cling on the rocky branches and climb up (And when water turns to jade it stays jade, I suppose)