Elona

The nation that attempted Ascension in the Crystal Desert
More than two hundred years ago, a group of people calling themseleves the Elonians under the leadership of the champion Turai Ossa tried to attain glory by achieving Ascension. They built towering monuments and great cities in the desert hoping to draw the attention of the Gods of Tyria.

The Elonians, like their predecessors, the Margonites, failed. Their pride caused mistrust to spread amongst them and their disregard for the Forgotten Ones caused them to engage them in battle. Both factors lead to the hasty demise of the once great colony nation.
 * One team went to the Dunes of Despair, and built the Temple of Ascension, where the gods will be looking . However, they were killed by the Forgotten.
 * Another team went to Elona Reach, trying to assemble the Vision Crystal to focus the gaze of the gods. However, the Elonians did not trust each other and split into three camps, each with a Vision Crystal shard, under the care of priests Hehmnut, Nahtem, and Kahdat. That was their downfall as no group would trust the others with their crystals. Those that did not die of thirst and starvation were easy prey for the Forgotten army and their Enchanted.  This marked the end of the nation.

During the events of the Prophecies Campaign, players will need to aid Turai Ossa in the three Crystal Desert missions Dunes of Despair, Elona Reach and Thirsty River to achieve their own Ascension.

Elona the continental nation


Elona is the name of the continent where Guild Wars Nightfall will be taking place.

According to the ArenaNet press release:
 * "Guild Wars Nightfall takes place on the continent of Elona, Land of the Golden Sun. It is a nation comprised of three great provinces; The island province of Istan is the home of a vibrant people who live among the monuments of an ancient empire. The military province of Kourna, under the command of its great leader, Warmarshal Varesh, hugs the shores of the mighty river Elon. And in the rugged lands to the north, the Princes of Vabbi rule from their opulent citadels. Elona is a land of wealth and power, protected by its champions, the Order of the Sunspears."

Issues

 * In the Crystal Desert, the only two occasions where the nation of the Elonian colonists were mentioned, it was always referred to as "the nation of Elonia." However, at various other situations where the nation is not direcetly referred to, reference to them is perdominantly of the form "of Elona" (such as "champion of Elona", "priest of Elona", "general of Elona").  It is unknown whether both instances "the nation of Elonia" is merely a typographical error for "the nation of Elona", ie. whether there is a nation and a continent of the same name (see the precedent of Cantha); or if the nation of Elonia simply originated from the continent of Elona, and were lead by the champion, priests, and generals who were renowned across continental Elona.


 * According to an acolyte of the Zaishen Order, the Crystal Desert is a part of the land of Elona. It is unknown whether he referenced it as the land of the nation that failed to colonize the desert, or as the continent where Nightfall takes place (instead of being part of the Tyrian continent).


 * In the quest Luxury Goods, an official in one of the Canthan ministries mentions that his land imports goods (mostly ornamental) from Elona. It is unknown whether he referenced it as the land of the nation that failed to colonize the desert, or as the continent where Nightfall takes place (instead of being part of the Tyrian continent).