self>TikkaLeFem: added notation as to Merrise

2026-07-17T23:20:49Z

added notation as to Merrise

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{{Item infobox
| rarity = white
| type = [[Storybook]]
| campaign = [[Guild Wars Eye of the North|Eye of the North]]
| stackable = no
| image = [[Image:Hero's Handbook.png]][[Image:Hero's Handbook (Hard Mode).png]]
}}

The [[Hero's Handbook]] provides [[lore]] for repeatable [[primary quest]]s completed in [[Guild Wars Eye of the North]]. There are two separate versions, one for [[normal mode]] and one for [[hard mode]]; the hard mode version is brown and gold rather than brown and silver.

The entries or pages found in the book:
:{| cellspacing="5" style="border: 1px solid black"

|-
| '''[[The Beginning of the End]]''' || 1 ||  
| '''[[The Knowledgeable Asura]]''' || 10

|-
| '''[[The Missing Vanguard]]''' || 2 ||  
| [[The Elusive Golemancer|Oola's Laboratory]] {{sic| this is supposed to be the title of the book entry, not the name of the quest, do not change it unless the title of the book entry changes, and if the title does change, please mention that the title has changed in both the edit summary and on the talk page}} || 11

|-
| [[Against the Charr]] || 3 ||  
| [[Finding the Bloodstone]] || 12

|-
| [[Warband of Brothers]] || 4 ||  
| [[Genius Operated Living Enchanted Manifestation|Genius Operated Living Enchanted Manifestation]] || 13

|-
| [[Assault on the Stronghold]] || 5 ||  
| '''[[Against the Destroyers]]''' || 14

|-
| '''[[Northern Allies]]''' || 6 ||  
| [[Destruction's Depths]] || 15

|-
| [[Curse of the Nornbear]] || 7 ||  
| [[A Time for Heroes]] || 16

|-
| [[A Gate Too Far]] || 8 ||  
|   ||   |

|-
| [[Blood Washes Blood]] || 9 ||  
|   ||  

|}{{TOCright}}

*Quests shown in '''bold''' will always appear in books, even when they have not been completed.

== Acquisition ==
*[[Far Shiverpeaks]]
**[[Eye of the North (outpost)]]
***[[Gedrel of Ascalon]] ([[Ebon Vanguard]])
**[[Gunnar's Hold]]
***[[Kodan]] ([[Deldrimor Dwarves]])
***[[Tyr the Skaald]] ([[Norn]])
*[[Tarnished Coast]]
**[[Rata Sum]]
***[[Lexx]] ([[Asura]])

''Note: These NPCs will only offer a Hero's Handbook [Hard Mode] to [[level]] 20 [[character]]s on an [[account]] with Eye of the North hard mode unlocked.''

==Rewards==
* The above NPCs give rewards for any Hero's Handbook or [[Master Dungeon Guide]] that has at least half of its pages completed. The rewards given for turning in one Hero's Handbook are as follows:

{| style="margin-left:1em;"
|
{| {{STDT}} cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5"
!colspan="7"| Hero's Handbook (Normal mode)
|-
! Pages
! Reputation points1
! [[Experience]]
! [[Gold]] {{Gold}}
|-
| 8
| 2,000
| 4,000
| 400
|-
| 9
| 3,000
| 6,000
| 600
|-
| 10
| 4,000
| 8,000
| 800
|-
| 11
| 6,000
| 12,000
| 1,200
|-
| 12
| 8,000
| 16,000
| 1,600
|-
| 13
| 10,000
| 20,000
| 2,000
|-
| 14
| 12,000
| 24,000
| 2,400
|-
| 15
| 15,000
| 30,000
| 3,000
|-
| 16
| 20,000
| 40,000
| 4,000
|}
|
{| {{STDT}} cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5"
!colspan="7"| Hero's Handbook (Hard mode)
|-
! Pages
! Reputation points1
! Experience
! Gold {{Gold}}
|-
| 8
| 3,000
| 6,000
| 600
|-
| 9
| 4,500
| 9,000
| 900
|-
| 10
| 6,000
| 12,000
| 1,200
|-
| 11
| 9,000
| 18,000
| 1,800
|-
| 12
| 12,000
| 24,000
| 2,400
|-
| 13
| 15,000
| 30,000
| 3,000
|-
| 14
| 18,000
| 36,000
| 3,600
|-
| 15
| 22,500
| 45,000
| 4,500
|-
| 16
| 30,000
| 60,000
| 6,000
|}
|}

: 1 The reputation points are added to the [[Asura Rank]], [[Deldrimor Rank]], [[Ebon Vanguard rank]], or [[Norn Rank]] depending on the [[NPC]] that the book is given to. See the list in [[Hero's Handbook#Acquisition|Acquisition]], above, for the NPC you should use.

== Game mechanics ==

* This item is automatically [[customize]]d upon acquisition.
* You can request a second copy of this storybook if the first is placed in [[storage]].
* You cannot turn this book in until you have at least 8 of the pages filled out.
** You only need to complete 3 missions to turn in a book, since all Hero's Handbooks will have pages 1, 2, 6, 10 and 14 already filled out.
* If you do not have the book in your inventory when completing a mission, you can talk to [[Kodan]] at [[Gunnars Hold]], [[Lexx]] at [[Rata Sum]], [[Gedrel of Ascalon]] at the [[Eye of the North]], or [[Tyr the Skaald]] at [[Gunnar's Hold]] and any of them will add the entries for 100g each.
** Your character cannot buy pages retroactively if that character goes 30 days without completing one of the missions listed in this book ([[Feedback talk:Joe Kimmes/Archive November 2009#Storybooks|source]]).
** Retroactive entries will only be made for the first book in your inventory.
* Once you reach rank 8 in the title track for their group, the respective NPCs will no longer give out, accept, or retroactively fill out normal mode books.
* Most [[character]]s will have achieved rank 3 in every [[reputation]] title track by completing the [[List of Eye of the North primary quests|Eye of the North storyline]], so it would only take 4 or 5 completely filled out hard mode Hero's Handbooks to achieve rank 10.
* If your character has achieved rank 10 in the four reputation title tracks, you may still request hard mode books, have at least 8 of the pages filled out and turn them in for the experience and gold.
* [[Merrise,_Sworn_to_Seas|Merrise, Sworn to Seas]]. See her, for additional quest rewards and a special mini pet; after you have redeemed a full copy of this book at a [[loremaster]].

==Title maxing with a Handbook==

The table below shows how many points can be gained from successive completions of this storybook. The table assumes that a player completes missions in normal mode until forced to switch to hard mode after reaching Rank 8 in all four titles. For each track, there are two rows: the first shows the reputation points earned for turning in the book; the second shows the points for quest completion. Each ''Cumulative Total'' (''Cum. Tot.'') column displays the ''least'' amount of reputation earned by this point; it ignores additional points earned through bounties and Zaishen Challenges.

:{| style="border:1px solid black;" rules="all" cellpadding="4"
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Title'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''NM Bk 1'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Cum. Tot'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''NM Bk 2'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Cum. Tot'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''NM Bk 3'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Cum. Tot'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''NM Bk 4'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Cum. Tot'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''HM Bk 1'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Cum. Tot'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''HM Bk 2'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Cum. Tot'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Remaining to max'''
|-
| '''Dwarf''' || 20,000 || 29,000 || 20,000 || 49,400 || 20,000 || 69,800 || 20,000 || 90,200 || 30,000 || 132,200 || 30,000 || 162,800 || 0
|-
| || 9,000 || || 400 || || 400 || || 400 || || 12,000 || || 600 || ||
|-
| '''Asura''' || 20,000 || 28,000 || 20,000 || 48,700 || 20,000 || 69,400 || 20,000 || 90,100 || 30,000 || 130,600 || 30,000 || 161,650 || 0
|-
| || 8,000 || || 700 || || 700 || || 700 || || 10,500 || || 1,050 || ||
|-
| '''Norn''' || 20,000 || 23,000 || 20,000 || 43,300 || 20,000 || 63,600 || 20,000 || 83,900 || 30,000 || 118,400 || 30,000 || 148,850 || 11,1501
|-
| || 3,000 || || 300 || || 300 || || 300 || || 4,500 || || 450 || ||
|-
| '''Vanguard''' || 20,000 || 24,500 || 20,000 || 44,900 || 20,000 || 65,300 || 20,000 || 85,700 || 30,000 || 120,950 || 30,000 || 151,550 || 8,4501
|-
| || 4,500 || || 400 || || 400 || || 400 || || 5,250 || || 600 || ||
|-
|}

: 1 Title is close to max. You are likely to be even closer, since you probably traveled under the effects of bounties or did a few dungeons. You can choose to partially complete one more book or farm.

; Efficiency notes
* A very efficient way to get from Rank 1-8 and 8-10, in any title track, is to have the number of books you need in your inventory (4 for NM and 2 or 3 HM (see below)) and move the empty ones to the lead in order to fill them. Then run each mission again and again until each book has the completed mission. Finally, turn in all of completed books for each title track. In total you will need to fill 16 in normal mode and 10 in hard mode for all 4 titles to Max (see below). This also makes a net profit of 120,000 gold plus drops. This takes into account rewards for completing the quests once each on both normal and hard mode, however repeat rewards, sidequests, and bounties have been omitted for simplicity.
* It is more efficient to get to rank 5 before [[vanquish]]ing Eye of the North areas.

{{bug| Entry #11 (Oola's Laboratory) is misleading: the handbook requires you to complete the quest [[the Elusive Golemancer]], not the dungeon with the similar name ([[Oola's Lab]]); these are completely different tasks.}}
{{bug| During Northern Support [[Weekly bonuses|weekly bonus]], upon handing in the books the text in the [[chat window]] will claim you have gained half the reputation points of what you would have gotten according to the above table. In reality you are actually granted the proper amount of reputation. }}

==Entries==
1. [[File:The Beginning of the End page.jpg|thumb|90px]]'''[[The Beginning of the End]]'''
: ''Earthquakes have ripped through [[Tyria]], [[Cantha]], and [[Elona]], leaving gaping fissures in the pockmarked land. In the aftermath, explorers discovered a maze of underground complexes called the [[Depths of Tyria|Depths]]. In these Depths, I found [[Ogden Stonehealer]] and his [[Dwarf|Dwarven]] party fleeing their supply depot. Moments later, powerful, inhuman creatures called [[Destroyer]]s attacked us, but we escaped with the help of an [[Asura]] named [[Vekk]]. He led us though a [[Asura Gate|magical gate]] to the [[Far Shiverpeaks]], a frigid land far from home. There we encountered one of the natives, a hulking [[Norn]] woman named [[Jora]]. She had little time or patience for strangers, but directed us to a great structure called the Eye of the North. After a long and arduous journey, we found several other humans at our destination, including soldiers of the [[Ebon Vanguard]] and a young Ascalonian woman named [[Gwen]]. Ogden, Vekk, and Gwen have their own ideas of what must be done next, but we will travel together. There is, as they say, strength in numbers.''
{{clear}}
2. [[File:The Missing Vanguard page.jpg|thumb|90px]]'''[[The Missing Vanguard]]'''
: ''Gwen is a refugee from [[Ascalon]] and a former prisoner of the [[Charr]]. Fleeing north after her escape, she joined up with an Ascalonian unit called the Ebon Vanguard, led by [[Captain Langmar]]. The bulk of the unit has been patrolling the Charr homelands in the east. They've been raiding the Charr near echelon and tying up forces that would otherwise be in Ascalon. Their return is long overdue, and Gwen fears the worst. Impatient and angry at the Charr, Gwen wants us to find the Ebon Vanguard. If we don't, I fear that she may go after them by herself.''
{{clear}}
3. [[File:Against the Charr page.jpg|thumb|90px]]'''[[Against the Charr]]'''
: ''In [[Grothmar Wardowns]], we found the site of a battle between the Ebon Vanguard and a large Charr force. The Vanguard sustained heavy casualties, but we believe the bulk of their unit was captured, not killed. By following the Charr's traces, we found a large encampment. We defeated the soldiers bivouacked there, but we couldn't find human prisoners. Instead, we found a captive named [[Pyre Fierceshot]], who seems to harbor a fierce hatred for the ruling Shamans. If we can help him rescue his warband, he's willing to help us find the Ebon Vanguard. Gwen would rather kill this Charr than look at him, but if he holds the key to rescuing the Vanguard, we should take him up on his offer.''
{{clear}}
4. [[File:Warband of Brothers page.jpg|thumb|90px]]'''[[Warband of Brothers]]'''
: ''The Charr have been ruled by their Shamans, who once claimed authority granted by the [[Titan]]s, their so-called gods. After the death of the Titans, the Shamans were desperate for new deities. When Pyre's warband disagreed with the choice, the heretics were captured and slated for sacrifice. We have freed Pyre's allies, and after a brutal interrogation of a priest, learned the location of the Ebon Vanguard. They're being held prisoner to the south, in [[Sacnoth Valley]], where the Charr want to sacrifice them to these "new gods." Gwen grows angrier every day, lashing out at Pyre over the slightest provocation. Pyre, for his part, seems to enjoy irritating her, though I sense he sees something in Gwen's behavior that he understands all too well.''
{{clear}}
5. [[File:Assault on the Stronghold page.jpg|thumb|90px]]'''[[Assault on the Stronghold]]'''
: ''Hierophant's Stronghold has fallen and [[Hierophant Burntsoul]] is dead, and the survivors of the Ebon Vanguard have been rescued. Pyre's warband and their knowledge of Charr tactics proved valuable in defeating the shamans. Instead of surrendering, Burntsoul chose to unleash the Destroyers upon us. As for Gwen, she seems better. She still hates the Charr, but she no longer lets that hatred control her. Perhaps this is what Pyre Fierceshot saw in her. The Charr view fear and anger as natural emotions, but they believe those feelings are only dangerous when they are out of control. Gwen seems in control of her fears and anger now, though I doubt she will thank Fierceshot for the lesson.''
{{clear}}
6. [[File:Northern Allies page.jpg|thumb|90px]]'''[[Northern Allies]]'''
: ''Ogden feels our best course for survival is rallying against the Destroyers. After being chased from the Depths, I can see his point. Precious few Dwarves and humans live in this land, and the few who do aren't here to hunt monsters. The largest group of natives in the mountains are the Norn, a proud, independent race of huge, shapechanging warriors. The first Norn we met, Jora, was friendlier than most, but she has lost her ability to 'become the bear.' Because she can't change her shape, she has little status among her people, but she may be our best hope for convincing the Norn that the Destroyers are a threat. Ogden certainly hopes so.''
{{clear}}
7. [[File:Curse of the Nornbear page.jpg|thumb|90px]]'''[[Curse of the Nornbear]]'''
: ''Jora was cursed when she entered a taboo area. She lost her shapechanging ability when her brother transformed into the monstrous [[Nornbear]]. With our aid, Jora confronted and defeated her brother. To show her gratitude, she has joined our group. Ogden is now searching for [[Olaf Olafson]] and other powerful Norn who can aid us in our quest. Jora must seek out [[Egil Fireteller]], an elder Norn, who can teach her how to regain her honor. I think we can do both, though Ogden grows more frustrated by the day.''
{{clear}}
8. [[File:A Gate Too Far page.jpg|thumb|90px]]'''[[A Gate Too Far]]'''
: ''Olaf Olafson is a typical Norn. He's willing to discuss things rationally, but he's always ready to fight to get his point across. He deigned to meet with us, but our "discussion" was interrupted by a large group of Destroyers attacking [[Raven's Point]]. Olaf traveled with us as we sought the source of this corruption. We soon discovered, as Vekk surmised, that a functioning Asura gate lies beneath a nearby shrine. Olaf is now committed to fighting the Destroyers, though he doesn't seem to care that they desecrated the shrine. He's more concerned with finding "worthwhile prey." Still, he has proven a valuable ally. Olaf also contacted the Dwarven king, [[Jalis Ironhammer]], and the battle against the Destroyers will continue.''
{{clear}}
9. [[File:Blood Washes Blood page.jpg|thumb|90px]]'''[[Blood Washes Blood]]'''
: ''Under Egil's guidance, Jora sought to redeem her honor and her name by retaking her hearthstead. Jora's family home had been overrun by meandering Charr from the south, who left it destroyed and abandoned. We dealt with the Charr through the blessing of the bear spirit, a holy guardian of Jora's people. Despite this, Ogden is sorely disappointed. He had hoped that by helping Jora, we would recruit other Norn to our cause, but evidently, that is not the Norn way. Jora will speak to her fellow warriors, but they will all make their own decisions.''
{{clear}}
10. [[File:The Knowledgeable Asura page.jpg|thumb|90px]]'''[[The Knowledgeable Asura]]'''
: ''Vekk is extremely concerned about the Destroyers, His people were driven from their underground homes by these creatures. Now the Destroyers have taken over the [[Central Transfer Chamber]], the "hub" of many of the magical Asura gates. He believes his fellow Asura, with their "superior intellect," will come up with a viable plan to defeat the Destroyers. Finding them, however, will be a challenge. After their exodus from the Depths, many of the Asura settled along the [[Tarnished Coast]]. If we can't find a functioning gate free of Destroyers, we'll be in for a long walk.''
{{clear}}
11. [[File:Oola's Laboratory page.jpg|thumb|90px]]'''[[The Elusive Golemancer|Oola's Laboratory]]''' {{sic|this is supposed to be the title of the book entry, not the name of the quest}}
: ''The Asura have strange methods of organizing themselves. To complete difficult tasks, they form "krewes." Our krewe's task was building a superior magical device called a [[golem]] to battle the Destroyers. Before we could build the device, we needed the help of an Asura named [[Oola]], who had squirreled herself away in the depths of her lab. After getting past her magical watchdogs, we had to use a little reverse psychology to get Oola on board. Vekk is impressed, and he's acting a little less superior as a result.''
{{clear}}
12. [[File:Finding the Bloodstone page.jpg|thumb|90px]]'''[[Finding the Bloodstone]]'''
: ''Not all Asura are good natured. To complete our product, we had to seek out a particularly acerbic little one named [[Gadd]], an expert on the [[Bloodstone]]s. Vekk describes him as egotistically nasty, unpleasant, and insulting. That description actually compliments him a bit too much. Gadd has been working with [[Livia]], an agent of the Shining Blades. She was hoping to learn information that would help [[Kryta]] in its civil war, but unfortunately, she had to put up with his insults along the way. Eventually, the two of them had a falling out. Livia now travels with us. Gadd doesn't seem to care, but then again, that seems his nature.''
{{clear}}
13. [[File:Genius Operated Living Enchanted Manifestation page.jpg|thumb|90px]]'''[[Genius Operated Living Enchanted Manifestation]]'''
: ''After all of the Asuran egos were sorted out, the [[G.O.L.E.M.]] project moved along quickly. One of the Asura on the original krewe couldn't make it, so Vekk stepped in, despite his misgivings about working with Gadd. We had to defend a foundry from Destroyer forces, but we got the golems functioning in the nick of time. Our victory came at a price. Gadd recklessly exceeded the project's safety margin in his work, and he paid for that mistake with his life. At this point, I learned the reason for Vekk and Gadd's continual squabbling: they were father and son. Vekk is grieving, but the Destroyers have been driven back. Now they're less of a threat to the Tarnished Coast''
{{clear}}
14. [[File:Against the Destroyers page.jpg|thumb|90px]]'''[[Against the Destroyers]]'''
: ''A threat has erupted from the Depths of Tyria. The Destroyers, merciless, mindless, destructive creatures, have emerged from the dark heart of the earth. They've driven underground races like the Asura to the surface, and tested the defenses of the Dwarves. The Destroyers have overrun the Asura's Central Transfer Chamber, the hub of a series of magical gates, and now threaten the entire surface world. Some of the Dwarves feel that an ultimate battle is coming, as chronicled in the [[Tome of Rubicon]]. For the moment, we need to find allies, resources, and most of all, knowledge to defeat this threat to the human lands.''
{{clear}}
15. [[File:Destruction's Depths page.jpg|thumb|90px]]'''[[Destruction's Depths]]'''
: ''The [[Scrying Pool|scrying pool]] in the [[Hall of Monuments]] has revealed an apocalyptic vision. With that revelation, we move towards a final battle. Vekk recognized the vision's location. It's beneath the Central Transfer Chamber, the hub of the Asura's magical network, and Ogden says that the ultimate danger is a creature from Dwarven legend: [[the Great Destroyer]]. We have rallied what allies we could among the humans, Norn, and Asura. King Jalis himself has worked [[Rite of the Great Dwarf|a mystic rite]] to invoke the power of the [[Great Dwarf]]. The ritual metamorphosed many dwarves into stone formed warriors who are now dedicated to eradicating the Destroyers. We fought our way deep into Destroyer territory and entered the Central Transfer Chamber. Now we're ready to face their destructive master. The Great Destroyer awaits.''
{{clear}}
16. [[File:A Time for Heroes page.jpg|thumb|90px]]'''[[A Time for Heroes]]'''
: ''We have finally defeated the Great Destroyer. In the wake of this climactic battle, its minions have fallen. Just as the Central Transfer Chamber was a hub of magical gates, the Great Destroyer was the central mind of the Destroyers. Eliminating that central mind has weakened their race. Those that remain are unthinking engines of destruction that can no longer swarm in organized hives.''
:''This victory has cost us greatly. Many dwarves {{sic|"Dwarves" is usually capitalized}} sacrificed their minds and their natural forms. They now pursue the surviving Destroyers deep within the earth. Yet, peace, of a sort, reigns. The sacrifice of the Dwarven race has spared the surface world the depredations of a deadly cataclysm.''
:''Peace is not eternal, I know, and there will be challenges in the years to come. We have found new peoples and new lands, and the role of mankind in this world...this creation of the gods...seems to be shrinking. I can only hope that when the next great danger arises in Tyria, whether on its surface or within its Depths, champions and heroes will once again be ready for the challenge.''

==Trivia==
*The Hero's Handbook, as well as the [[Master Dungeon Guide]], are references to the [[w:Player%27s_Handbook|Player's Handbook]] and [[w:Dungeon_Master%27s_Guide|Dungeon Master's Guide]] respectively, the two main rulebooks from the [[w:Dungeons_%26_Dragons|Dungeons & Dragons]] tabletop role-playing game. As well as having similar names, the coloring of both book icons are similar to those of the 3.5 editions of the real books ([http://wiki.guildwars.com/index.php?title=User_talk:Emily_Diehl/Trivia_archive&oldid=371774#Trivia_Check source]).

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Hero's Handbook - Revision history

self>TikkaLeFem: added notation as to Merrise