Inner Nayos
Inner Nayos is one of the most visually distinctive and lore-rich zones in Guild Wars 2. It offers players an opportunity to explore the ethereal Realm of Dreams. The Secrets of the Obscure expansion, released on 22 August 2023, made this mystical domain accessible. This is the fourth major expansion for the game and the first to follow the conclusion of the decade-long Elder Dragon Saga.
Secrets of the Obscure introduced ArenaNet's new annual expansion model, shifting away from the long-standing Living World release structure. The expansion features three story acts released in parts: "Through the Veil," "The Realm of Dreams," and "The Midnight King." This content structure was designed to deliver updates more consistently while supporting improved work-life balance for the development team.
Within the Guild Wars 2 cosmology, Nayos exists as a domain within the Mists – the mystical fabric that connects worlds. This ethereal realm serves as the ancestral home of the Kryptis demons, who emerged as the primary antagonists in the Secrets of the Obscure narrative. Nayos holds significant historical importance beyond the current story, as it was purportedly the original home of the mursaat before their exile to Tyria, creating an intriguing link between the ancient mursaat and the Kryptis demons.
For much of its history, Nayos was ruled by Eparch, the tyrannical Midnight King. He organised the Kryptis into noble houses with rankings of lesser and higher demons. Under his command, champions of Nayos battled heroes from many Mist realms over the ages, seeking to consume and corrupt other worlds. Following the events of Secrets of the Obscure, the power structure of Nayos shifted when Peitha succeeded Eparch as the new Midnight King after his death in the Kryptis civil war.
Inner Nayos is divided into three primary regions, each with distinct characteristics. Heitor's Territory serves as the outskirts where players first encounter this alien realm. This area includes locations such as Heitor's Dominion, Memory's Hollow, Mourning's Shade, The Bleeding Wastes, and The Forgotten Path. The Nyedra Surrounds form the heart of Kryptis civilisation, home to numerous settlements, fortresses, and significant landmarks, including the imposing Coliseum of the Midnight King. The innermost region, Zakiros, serves as the seat of power for the Kryptis leadership and is protected by a malignant fog, making it inaccessible until players progress through the expansion story.
The environment of Nayos differs significantly from that of Tyria in several key aspects. The realm has no sun, resulting in a perpetually murky atmosphere. Nayosian flora has adapted to utilise latent magic instead of sunlight, often adopting fleshy and spiky appearances. Fauna is scarce but extraordinarily dangerous, having evolved longer, sharper claws and fangs, with thicker, spiked carapaces as adaptations to the harsh conditions. The air is notably heavier than in Tyria, making navigation difficult for non-Kryptis visitors. The terrain is chaotic and challenging to traverse, with massive trees sprawling around settlements and encampments.
The Kryptis are classified as Demons from the Mists, similar to other demonic entities in Guild Wars lore. Like all demons, they feed on fears and negative emotions of mortal souls. What distinguishes them is their ability to manifest physically outside their realm, though this requires significant effort – they generally prefer possessing mortals and feeding off them slowly. Unlike some demons who originated as corrupted mortal souls, the Kryptis appear to be naturally occurring entities that can reproduce biologically. Evidence of this includes their family structures and physical similarities, traits uncommon among other demonic races.
Following the Kryptis invasion of Tyria, the Astral Ward established an encampment in Inner Nayos. This base serves as a staging ground to rally sympathetic Kryptis rebels against Eparch and his loyalists, demonstrating that not all Kryptis support their ruler's expansionist ambitions. This nuanced approach to the antagonist faction adds depth to the story and shows division among the demons themselves.
Players can reach Inner Nayos through two primary methods, both requiring the Secrets of the Obscure expansion: completing "Duress," the eleventh chapter of the Secrets of the Obscure story, or using the portal at the northwest of The Wizard's Tower (Dream Connector waypoint). Completing the Inner Nayos map rewards players with 22 Hero Points, 8,001 experience, a random Exotic equipment piece, a guaranteed Transmutation Charge, and a chance at either an additional Transmutation Charge or a rare Black Lion Chest Key.
Unlike previous expansion zones, the Gift of Inner Nayos (used for legendary crafting) is not obtained directly from map completion. Instead, players must complete the repeatable achievement "Illuminating Inner Nayos." This achievement involves lighting 43 Starlight Lanterns located throughout Heitor's Territory and Nyedra Surrounds. These lanterns are positioned near waypoints and points of interest across the map. Several content creators have developed routes to efficiently complete this achievement in about 10 minutes, utilising mount skills and strategic pathing.
Inner Nayos serves as the climactic setting for the third act of the Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure expansion, with its story unfolding across several major chapters and instances. The main story begins with "Duress," which unlocks access to Inner Nayos after the Astral Ward and the Commander pursue the Kryptis threat deeper into their home realm. The bulk of Inner Nayos' story content is found in Act 3, which is divided across several chapters and instances, including "Into the Obscure," "The World Spire," and "Treachery," culminating in the final confrontation with Cerus, a powerful Kryptis and Peitha's brother.
The culmination of the Inner Nayos storyline takes place in the "Citadel of Zakiros," situated at the heart of Eparch's power. The Commander leads the charge into the Citadel, confronting Eparch and his most loyal Kryptis. This is where the fate of Nayos and its denizens is decided. While not main story quests, Inner Nayos also features numerous dynamic and meta-events tied to the ongoing conflict, including Recon and Patrol Squad Events to support Astral Ward and Kryptis rebels in securing territory and pushing back loyalist forces.
Secrets of the Obscure represents ArenaNet's first attempt at the annual expansion model, designed to address several issues identified by both players and developers. According to the development team, this new approach aimed to deliver content updates more consistently and in a timely manner, provide better support for various game systems and modes, and enable better work-life balance for the development team. The release of Inner Nayos across three parts was part of a new strategy that involved smaller, more frequent expansion releases.
Player reception to Inner Nayos and the expansion's release structure has been mixed. Some players appreciated the collections and the Kryptis skyscale mount system, noting that it showed potential for future mount collecting mechanics. Others criticised the decision to release one map and story arc in three parts, spanning nine months of game time, feeling it provided insufficient content. There were concerns about meta events needing improvement. Some players noted that most of Inner Nayos is a self-contained story, not strictly necessary for progression to subsequent content, such as Janthir Wilds.
Through its association with the mursaat, Inner Nayos creates intriguing connections to broader Guild Wars lore. The revelation that Nayos was potentially the original home of the mursaat before their exile to Tyria creates a fascinating bridge between the original Guild Wars and the current storyline. This connection is further emphasised in the expansion's finale, which contains numerous hints at possible mursaat involvement in future narratives. Such narrative threads suggest that the story elements introduced in Inner Nayos may have significant implications for future Guild Wars 2 content.
Inner Nayos represents not just a new zone but a significant milestone in Guild Wars 2's development philosophy. As part of Secrets of the Obscure, it embodies ArenaNet's shift toward more frequent, focused expansions rather than the previous Living World model. The zone's unique environment, connection to ancient lore, and innovative achievement systems add meaningful depth to the Guild Wars universe. As ArenaNet moves forward with new expansions, such as Janthir Wilds, the development of Inner Nayos and Secrets of the Obscure will likely influence their approach to content creation, storytelling, and release schedules.
