Elona

Elona is a continent in the world of Guild Wars, featured in the Nightfall campaign.


 * Note: Elona and Tyria are adjacent to each other as parts of the same supercontinent.

Elona is a land of wealth and power, protected by its Champions, the Order of the Sunspears. It is known as the "Land of the Golden Sun", with a warmer climate than the continents of Tyria and Cantha. The continent may be named after the mighty river Elon that runs through it.

Regions
The nation of Elona is divided into three great provinces:
 * 1) Istan - an island province. It is famous for fantastic monuments of an ancient Elonian empire, lending an intriguing appearance to the island province. Istan is a land of heroes, and those who dwell within it are considered the protectors of Elona.
 * 2) Kourna - an arid region adjacent to the Tyrian Crystal Desert. It is located in the "heart" of Elona, on the shores of the magnificent river Elon, source of sustenance for the region, providing fresh water for a man-made irrigation system. Kourna is a military province housing a majestic army, reigned by Warmarshal Varesh Ossa.
 * 3) Vabbi - a highland region in the north of Elona, known for marvelous wealth and beauty. It is surrounded by mountains littered with gem mines, providing an inspiration for the ornamental architecture used in the cities of Vabbi. The Princes of Vabbi reign in their opulent citadels.

In addition to the three human provinces there are two more regions, but these are under the control of evil:
 * 1) Desolation - a part of Elona that has been ravaged by demons and undead. A most hostile environment, a poisonous desert with pits of sulphur. Palawa Joko first invaded Elona from the Desolation.
 * 2) Realm of Torment - the very source of evil. This is where Nightfall came from, and the player will eventually have to venture into this area to defeat it.

Elonians in the Crystal Desert
More than two hundred years ago, Turai Ossa, the Champion of Elona who defeated the scourge of Vabbi, led a group of Elonians to the Crystal Desert, trying to attain glory by achieving Ascension. They built towering monuments and great cities in the desert hoping to draw the attention of the Gods.

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 nation.
 * One group 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 group 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.

Issues - Elonia

 * In the Crystal Desert, the only single occasion where the nation of the Elonian colonists was mentioned, it was referred to as "the nation of Elonia." However, at various other situations where the nation is not directly referred to, reference to them is predominantly of the form "of Elona" (such as "champion of Elona", "priest of Elona", "general of Elona"), with only one single case where the word "Elonia" was used.  Currently there are two possible view points on the matter:
 * 1) Both instances of "Elonia" are typographical errors for "Elona".  The nation of Elona fell 200 years ago, but the people left behind who didn't go to the Crystal Desert re-established a new nation of Elona.
 * 2) Turai Ossa's people, upon reaching the Crystal Desert, formed a new nation called "Elonia" in honour of the land and nation they came from.  Because they originally came from Elona, where they achieved their ranks/deeds, they were still known as champion, priest, general etc of Elona.